Tunisia vs Malta

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by James Stringer from Tripoli

Tunisia looked to make it 3 wins out of 3 and the effective counter attacking side didn’t let anyone down as they dominated this game with the kind of attacking display that destroyed Cyprus and shocked Bosnia, who everyone thought would win the group at the start of the tournament. Tunisia who are ranked 76th in the world, have been the star performers so far and Head coach Bouabid Lofti must be happy with what he has seen so far from his group of players.
Magro Robert had a shot deflected for a corner by Hichem Ben Farhat, Cutajar John took it and Scicluna Carlo fired wide. Shortly after Magro Robert fired wide again after a great piece of attacking play by Malta. Magro Robert took another shot that was saved by the keeper, the Tunisian’s did counter attack but didn’t manage to score.
Walid Oueslati had a shot that bounced on the cross bar after a lovely attacking piece of play from the Tunisians, they were awarded a free kick 10m out after a foul and Ouled Ali Ben Brahim Ali hammered it into the far corner for Tunisia to take the lead.

After the goal Malta had some very good chances to pull a goal back, Scicluna Carlo shot against the keeper and then had a thunderous attempt go just wide of the left hand post. Ouled Ali Ben Brahim Ali had a rasping effort fly wide of the left hand post from about 10m out where he was unlucky not to add to his goal tally.
Mrad Karim tested Vassallo Bjorn from the left hand side but the keeper managed to save with his out stretched leg. Malta were defending well, managing to clear everything that came their way and even managed to counter attacked at times. Tunisia weren’t showing the type of Futsal that we have already been treated to so far in the competition. Malta’s defence was very well organised as they contained and frustrated the Tunisians for large parts just outside their box. In the dying moments of the first half Riadh Ben Hamida had an effort well saved by Vassallo Bjorn and Magro Robert fired a shot straight at Hichem Ben Farhat just before the half time buzzer sounded and end to a very good game of Futsal.

Malta came out of the second half all fired up and equalised after only a few minutes. They got possession in the centre of the pitch, the ball found it’s way to Cutajar John on the right who thumped it into the back of the net from just outside the box. Almost straight after the goal Tunisia went on the break and Malta conceded a penalty. Walid Oueslati took the penalty and he sent the keeper the wrong way and scored with the aid of the post.

Saliba Xavier took a vicious free kick just wide for malta and Riadh Ben Hamida hit a shot straight at the keeper for Tunisia, Saliba Xavier had another shot from the left which was gathered by the keeper. He had a one on one but the keeper put it out for a throw followed by a nice flowing move in which Mrad Karim had an effort that was just past the post.

Malta might feel hard done by as the next goal was a bit ontroversial. Zied Jeljili appeared to have played the ball over the line whilst running down the wing, he crossed it to Riadh Ben Hamida who knocked it into an empty net to increase the lead further.

Gatt Jean Bert was booked for deliberate handball, the freekick is played out to Walid Oueslati who fires one at the corner, the keeper gets 2 hands to it and pushes it against the corner, it comes back out to Walid Oueslati and this time he hammered it against the same corner and out of play. Walid Oueslati again gets a chance that he fired just wide, the Tunisian has been impressive in this half. Zied Jeljili fired a shot just wide moments before he scored the final goal of the game. He latched onto the ball and fired it hard and high into the roof of the net to end the game 4-1. Most Valuable Player Moez Trabelsi said after the match “Malta sat deep and played very well, we have more than just the counter attack and we are looking forward to the second round of the competition now”.


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