Futsal Planet

Turkey vs Algeria

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by Damon Shaw from Tripoli

Algeria and Turkey are aiming for a 9th place finish in the Mediterranean Futsal Cup and they meet in the 23rd September Hall in the first game

Serhat Cicek broke clear down the left channel and finished well past Farid Tifrani in the Algeria goal to make it 1-0. Turkey were on the ascendancy and within a minute their lead had been doubled by Ersin Ugur Canoglu who beat his defender and poked in from an angle. A third goal in quick succession, another toe poke as Cicek bore down on the Algeria goal and finished past the hapless Tifrani to put Turkey in a comfortable position after 10 minutes of the first half.

A good triple save was required from Yildiz as Boudebouz and Meghzili had shots on the Turkish goal in an attempt to claw one back and Yildiz kept the scre at 3-0 in superb fashion.

It could have been the moment to inspire Turkey to victory as seconds later at the other end Sakir Bozlar picked up on a free ball that came in from a corner and it took him two attempts to score. Tifrani saved well but couldn’t gather the ball and Bozlar shot the second effort high into the goal over the grounded keeper and it was 4-0.

A good save on the stroke of half time by Yildriz kept the score at 4-0. Algeria needed something special in the second half to turn this game around.

They did start well and hit the cross bar in the opening minute but it was Turkey who extended the lead 4 minutes in. Cihan Ozcan jinked inside and fire a right footed effort into the top right corner.

Algeria’s Zahir Meghzili responded with a similar strike from about 10 metres, but time was running out for the team in white. Chelali added another for Algeria to the dismay of Omer Kaner, who was distraught at conceding nine to Syria, and didn’t look happy with his defence at this point in the second half. Would they crumble again like they did against Syria? It certainly had given Algeria more impetus and before long they had added a third, this time an own goal from Saglem who couldn’t do anything but divert the cross into his own goal beyond his goalkeeper. Turkey had let a comfortable five goal lead slip to 5-3 and Algeria were sensing an epic comeback.

Turkey reintroduced captain Ozcan who immediately tested Tifrani with a shot at the top corner, but Algeria’s comeback was still on track as Tifrani tipped the shot over with his fingertips.

Turkey didn’t seem to know how to slow and game down and control it, which allowed Algeria plenty of opportunities as Turkey’s attacks often broke down, with men committed forward.

Tifrani was vital in keeping Turkey out and with a minute on the clock Algeria got the 4th and were in touching distance of the equaliser. Tifrani was joining the attacks, though it wasn’t something that looked natural to Algerian. Turkey held out, just, to go into the final for 9th/10th place, leaving Algeria to fight for 11th place.

It was a superb fightback from 5-0 down by Algeria and the player who kept the comeback alive with several excellent saves was Farid Tifrani so he takes the Futsal Planet Most Valuable Player award. Turkey will consider themselves lucky to hold onto the win, but their performance was far from convincing.

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