Courtesy: Lebanese Daily Star


Croatia thrashes Lebanon 5-1 in Mediterranean Futsal Cup

By Kenny Laurie
(text taken from the original report by Damon Shaw posted on Futsalplanet.com)

Thursday, November 04, 2010

BEIRUT: Lebanon was humbled 5-1 against Group D leader Croatia Wednesday at the Mediterranean Futsal Cup, leaving the Cedars in second place, joint with Turkey.

Having beat Turkey Tuesday, Lebanon Friday needs to defeat Palestine – which lost 6-3 to Turkey Wednesday – and hope that Turkey is unable to beat Croatia.

On current form, Croatia is unlikely to lose to Turkey, having marked its credentials with strong wins over Lebanon and Palestine in the last two days.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing for Croatia, as Lebanon took the lead after seven minutes before Croatia could get a hold of the game. Lebanon was set up to play on the counterattack and a minute before they took the lead they had another chance but Hayssam Atwi scuffed his shot when clear on goal.

Croatia did have a chance to take the lead, which led to Lebanon’s opener. There was great work down the right by Tihomir Novak and he squared across the box. The ball made its way to the second post and Dario Marinovic could not have asked for an easier chance in an open goal from less than a meter. He hit the post and Lebanon made a quick counter attack, ending in Khaled Takaji’s cool finish beyond the goalkeeper.

Josip Suton leveled for Croatia, picking up El Kakhi’s save that turned onto the post and scoring from close range before Marinovic added a second.

Croatia uncharacteristically misplaced a lot of passes but Marinovic set up Matija Dulvat at the far post for an easy finish.

Another spell of possession resulted in the goal of the tournament so far: Capar played a ball down the right to Tihomir Novak who struck powerfully from an impossible angle into the roof of the net.

Croatia scored a fifth 20 seconds from time.


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