Futsal Planet

Cyprus vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by Damon Shaw from Tripoli

Bosnia and Herzegovina were in the driving seat going into this game against a quickly improving Cyprus team. Both teams were on three points and were in a direct playoff to qualify for the next round. Bosnia would go through with a draw thanks to their better goal difference and are much higher in the world futsal rankings, so Cyprus had a mountain to climb.

Bosnia had comfortably dispatched of Cyprus and were then beaten by the surprise of the tournament Tunisia so found themselves needing a final day win despite being strong favourites to win the group.

Bosnia, as expected started well and looked like favourites, but Cyprus were not going to roll over easily. Neither side fashioned a real opportunity and it took a superb long range effort from MVP Maid Ramic to break the deadlock and put Bosnia and Herzegovina in front. He cut in from the left wing and unleashed a scorcher into the top right hand corner.

Captain Alen Lalic then made it two and put Bosnia and Herzegovina firmly in the driving seat with Cyprus now needing three to go through ahead of their opponents. The game was feisty with both sides giving away several free kicks close to their goal. Bosnia looked the better side and Cyprus did little to convince anybody they had enough to come back from two goals down.

In the second half it was again Bosnia who scored first, making Cyprus’ task all the more unlikely. They did put more pressure on the Bosnians but they still weren’t creating chances. They defended very well, preventing their deficit from growing and were putting bodies on the line for the cause.

Chrysostomos Chrysostomou gave the islanders a lifeline with a neat finish into the bottom right hand corner with 15 minutes to go and the Cyprus bench erupted.

Too many wasted chances to attack and Cyprus may kick themselves, especially as Tomislav Bevinda underlined Bosnia’s threat as he broke away one on one with Anastasios Skampilis. He shot just wide to the relief of the Cypriots.

Chrysostomos Chrysostomou scored his second from a free kick given on the right. It was drilled into the box and Chrysostomou was there to turn it in and Cyprus had the fight back was on. With three minutes on the clock on came the fly goalkeeper in a crudely mocked up number 7 shirt. Polyviou was controlling play and Cyprus needed a breakthrough as the Bosnians sat deep and the crowd jeered.

Losing the ball in this situation is dangerous and Polyviou did just that and Bosnia almost won the game with a shot from deep in their own territory. Just wide and back came Cyprus. Their chances were limited well by Bosnia and shots from almost on the goal line were all Cyprus could muster as Bosnia cleared their lines as quickly as possible.

A sloppy forward pass was blocked by the arm of Mulahmetovic but the claims of the Cypriots were waved away by the officials as Cyprus went mad. Mulahmetovic looked up and shot from 30 metres to end the hopes of Cyprus once and for all.

It was a spirited fight back and a very determined display from a team ranked 69 in the World against an experienced and solid Bosnian side.

Maid Ramic claimed the Futsal Planet MVP award for his wonder goal to open the scoring and he was influential in all areas of the game today for Bosnia and Herzegovina. They now go on to play the winner of Slovenia and France in the quarter final which is up next in the 23rd September Hall.

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