Futsal Planet

Tunisia vs France

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by James Stringer from Tripoli

France took on Tunisia today at the 23rd September Hall in what was a very entertaining match. Tunisia were the real surprise package at this tournament, being the lowest ranking side left in the upper quarter finals. They can be devastating with counter attacking flowing Futsal but in today’s game they never got the same chance to show what they have been doing all tournament as France showed them how to defend as a team.

Teixeira Alexandre had the first shot of the game firing just wide of the far post and Otmani Mustapha hammered it against the post. Mrad Karim managed to pick the ball up and has a low shot that just drifts wide of the right hand post. France dominated early possession and had several shots at goal only for the majority of them to be blocked by the very talented Moez Trabelsi.

Teixeira Alexandre had a shot from distance only for it to hit his own player Hamdoud Kamel on the line, it was the closest France had come so far. Tunisia’s counter attack was evident afterwards with Haroun Djamel needed to make a low diving save at the near post. Kourar Moustafa was the next French player to smash one off the post as they looked to take the lead but Tunisia almost caught them out on the counter. Haroun Djamel needed to make a smart save form the on rushing Riadh Ben Hamida and at the other end Teixeira Alexandre managed to work a shot in the box only to see it hit the post again.

Moez Trabelsi was blocking everything at the back for Tunisia and Teixeira Alexandre was the creative force behind most of the French attacks. Tunisia reduced France to shooting from distance as the French became more and more frustrated. Otmani Mustapha slid in at the far post and almost made a connection but it ended up at a Tunisian players feet and it was passed away to safety. Ouled Ali Ben Brahim Ali showed some great composure on the turn only for the French this time to show some great defensive duties.

Kourar Moustafa was booked for dragging Ouled Ali Ben Brahim Ali to the ground, which would have pleased any rugby coach in the world but unfortunately for Kourar Moustafa, it’s not a legal Futsal challenge. After that the half came to an end with neither side managing to break the deadlock.

Tunisia break forward in the second half and it takes a very good defensive tackle from Teixeira Alexandre to keep the Tunisian’s out. They break again and the ball is finally played into Meher Mazhoud and with his back to goal the Tunisian tries a deft back heel only to be denied by the recovering Haroun Djamel.
France nearly score soon after as the ball is played down the byline to Teixeira Alexandre and the competition’s top goalscorer has an effort that is saved by Hichem Ben Farhat, he was beaten moments later by Teixeira Alexandre as a ball that was worked well down the right was fired across the keeper into the sliding Teixeira Alexandre to poke home the first of the match.

France were playing Tunisia at their own game and counter attacking well, Teixeira Alexandre this time had the chance to become provider and his cross would have reached it’s target only for Moez Trabelsi to intercept, it is well worth noting that France didn’t score when Moez Trabelsi was on the pitch but the Tunisian couldn’t have done anything about Frances second goal with Saidi Ibrahim dancing through the defence before releasing an unstoppable shot into the net.

Tunisia weren’t allowed to play their counter attacking Futsal and had to try and match France’s style of play. They struggled to do this effectively as Teixeira Alexandre collects the ball on the right and thunders a shot at the keeper. At the other enc Tunisia should have scored as Zied Jeljili had the ball in the area but hesitated and the chance was gone, if he had shot first time we might have been looking at a different scoreline.

Quite how Tunisia didn’t I will never know, Mrad Karim crossed the ball into the box, rushing in to shoot was Ouled Ali Ben Brahim Ali and Issam Abidi only for both players to shoot at Haroun Djamel. They may well have rued that goal scoring chance as France were awarded a 10m penalty and Teixeira Alexandre stepped up to smash the ball home.

It was all but looking bleak for Tunisia but they managed to grab a goal from Ouled Ali Ben Brahim Ali as he unleashed a bullet of a shot into the back of the net. It was not the catalyst that they had hoped for as a foul on Haroun Djamel awarded Teixeira Alexandre the chance to claim his hat trick, he made no mistake and added his 4th moments later as he converted another French attack to end the game 5 – 1 winners. Tunisia can feel very proud of their efforts in this tournament and by the way they have improved we can expect them to be a real force in the future for Futsal.

Most Valuable Player Alexandre Teixeira gave Futsal Planet an interview in French that we will get translated and posted up on the site soon.

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