Futsal Planet

Turkey vs Syria

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by Damon Shaw from Tripoli

Turkey survived a late surge from Syria to send them into the 9-12 place ranking matches in a game that was more similar to a casual game of 5-a-side than the futsal we have come to expect in the Mediterranean Futsal Cup. The defences were generous as opposed to the attackers being clinical and neither goalkeeper will want to take the DVD of this game home.

There were a few good goals to talk of, but that would be expected in a game with 23 goals. Three players each scored a hattrick which will boost their standings in the top scorer chart and MVP, which was difficult to tell in such a frantic game, Yildirim scored four.

When Turkey scored in the first minute, everyone thought it was going to be an easy rout. Burak Yildirim opened his account for the day with a free goal at the far post. Syria’s defence was already showing its frailties. To the surprise of everyone, firstly, no goals arrived for seven minutes, but when it did it was Syria equalising. Eyad Al Shehbi scored. Before anybody could take note of anything, Turkey had gone up the other end and scored again! This time captain Ozcan. It was a staggering 12 seconds between the goals and things started to open up.

The teams exchanged goals within 60 seconds again. Rafat Al Jghami for Syria and Ozay Ozutok for Turkey and the score was 3-2. Turkey’s goal was a gaff by the keeper. A mid height ball came across the box and he jumped out his goal to “catch” it. However, he fumbled the ball and it ended up dropping under him to the delight of the poaching Ozutok.

Turkey then went on a mini mission and scored 5 in a row before half time, between the fifteenth minute and half time. They didn’t stop there and scored another two just after the break and they were cruising. The pick of the 7 in a row was a delicate chip by Ozcan for Yildirim to score a diving header.

Syria then had a couple of goals within 15 seconds of each other. Estanbolli, a tricky player for Syria scored both, the second one the goal of the game. He broke free beyond the last defender and bore down on Yildiz who set his body too early allowed Estanbolli to cheekily scoop the ball over his head and bring the scores back to 10-4.

Quickfire doubles were the topic of the day and it was Turkey, and Yildirim who stepped up next with two goals, both from the left, both within 53 seconds of each other and the score reached its highest margin of the day again at 12-4. Surely this was now game over, if it wasn’t already game over at any point before.

With 13 minutes left, and an 8 goal lead, surely, keeping possession and slowing down the game, and defending responsibly should have been on order, but when Syria scored 2 more, again in quick succession, Omer Kaner, Turkey coach called a time out. Not for tactics, not for a rest but to shout at his players. They had conceded 6 against Syria who had only scored 6 in all three group games.

It didn’t work, Syria went on to score three after the time out and make the scores 12-9. In that goal flurry, Kaner pulled off the goalkeeper who had a nightmare and on went the sub keeper. Syria were on the up and had scored 9 goals, 5 without reply! Could they perform a miracle come back and take this game to extra time??

As well as goals, this game had fouls and both sides were on 5 fouls. Turkey got a 10 metre penalty and could stop the rot by scoring. Captain Ozcan duly obliged and made it 13-9. One more goal for Turkey before the end and it finished as the highest scoring game so far.

Not a great game as the scoreline would suggest, but a sloppy, frantic game where neither side any sort of control of the match.

Turkey go on to play for 9th place while Syria will do well to avoid finishing 16th.

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