France vs Albania

by James Stringer from Tripoli

France headed into this game on the back of a 4-0 victory and knew that they only needed another win to make them progress into the second round, Albania didn’t make it easy for them by no stretch of the imagination. It was France that started the match the way they intended to play, attacking constantly forcing Albania to play deep. Teixeira Alexandre had a shot saved by Dervishi Erlis along with Otmani Mustapha and Chaulet Jonathan all within the space of a few minutes.

Dajko Dorian was booked for not wearing shin guards as Otmani Mustapha had a shot that Lumanaj Zamir blocked on the line. What happened next I still can’t believe, Teixeira Alexandre passed the ball to Otmani Mustapha who’s shot is blocked, Hamdoud Kamel collects up the rebound and it somehow goes out play for a goal kick. Chaulet Jonathan has a shot but it’s saved and Lumanaj Zamir shoots when he has options to the right, the French keeper makes the save. Bllaca Fisnik hits a fizzing shot straight at the keeper and Teixeira Alexandre hits a shot that is tipped over bar.

Good play by Dajko Dorian tees up Bllaca Fisnikafter drawing the keeper out of position only to hit the ball high into the stands, Albania were beginning to venture forward more and get more involved with the game. Dalipi Besian was booked for Albania for a foul and shortly after France smashed an effort onto the post making Albania jump into yet another clearance from the line. Chaulet Jonathan both had shots Basson Stephane at the Albanian keeper only to be denied at every opportunity.

Bllaca Fisnik broke clear for Albania, dribbled around the keeper only for Otmani Mustapha to be waiting to cover the shot on goal. Butt Farouk strikes one from 20m over the bar and Teixeira Alexandre smashed one into the side netting. Then the game saw it’s first goal, Haxhia Bujar scored a cross come shot from the right with Hackovia Spartak sliding into the back of the net with the ball, Albania had taken the lead.
Bllaca Fisnik went on an incredible run when he took 3 french players with him and out of the game, he was forced wide but this was the impedous for Lumanaj Zamir to smash a shot which was saved by Haroun Djamel.
France stepped up a gear and began shooting from everywhere on the pitch, from the left right and centre but ultimately being wasteful. Kourar Moustafa had a shot tipped over by Dervishi Erlis and then had another chance to score when set up by Dalipi Besian.

By this point Albania were on the back foot and blocking everything and anything that came their way only to be outdone by Alla Samir. The defence, which had been so solid for 17 minutes, parted like the red sea in front of Alla Samir and he opened up and rifled the ball into the far corner from 8m. Suddenly the game developed a sinister twist at the end of the half and a fiery encounter between Lumanaj Zamir and Basson Stephane began and continued after the half time buzzer. Lumanaj Zamir was later booked at the start of the second half for his part in the heated debate.

At the start of the second half Dajko Dorian fouled Otmani Mustapha to give Teixeira Alexandre a shot from the free kick, he set himself and then fired the free kick high and wide into the top corner of the stadia. You can forgive him for that as his next contribution led to France taking the lead as he scored a powerful effort into the bottom left of the goal. The Keeper got a hand on it but no keeper in this competition would have stopped that one. He almost had a second goal moment later when he went one on one with the keeper only to have the ball plucked form his feet.

Chaulet Jonathan got booked for not wearing shin guards and Albania started to get back into their impressive defensive display that they demonstrated in the first half. Saidi Ibrahim had a shot parried away by keeper and then Alla Samir teed him back up to fire wide.
Pacrami Alis shoots just over the bar before Alla Samir lays plays the ball to Basson Stephane who has his shot saved by Dervishi Erlis after a scramble in the box. Alla Samir again gets the chance to increase France’s lead only to be stopped by a wall of Albanian defenders. Then France score 2 goals in the space of 30 seconds when Teixeira Alexandre collects a cross from the left into the box and fires it home. He then intercepts a sloppy pass and races in on goal, does a small drag over to the right and suddenly France had got a 3 goal cushion.

Albania weren’t giving up that easily and Hackovia Spartak suddenly came to life. First he forced a save for corner, had a free kick into the French wall and then went on a run from a counter attack that ended up nicely in the French goal.
Albania started pressing more and more but couldn’t get through a wall of French, but then a mix up in the French defence almost let in Hackovia Spartak but it wasn’t converted. On the counter Pacrami Alis had to slide in on on Teixeira Alexandre to prevent another French goal only for Saidi Ibrahim to miss an open goal for france, great build up play drew the keeper to the right. Saidi Ibrahim quickly made amends for his error and finished off the scoring for France in emphatic style.

MVP Alexandre Teixeira said ”I am happy to get the hat trick but it is for the team.”


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com