Futsal Planet

Syria vs Malta

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by James Stringer from Tripoli

Syria came to the African Union Stadia today looking to make history by winning a game of Futsal against a Malta side also looking to win a match. History was to be made as Estanbolli Mohamad dictated the whole match for Syria and scored his hat trick very early on in a first half dominated by the Syrian players.

He got his first goal of the game after 1:32 after they broke forward against Malta and hammered in his second soon after. Syria were now breaking forward and only had the ambition to attack rather than defend and that was when Kataya Mohammad collected the ball out on the left and hammered it home past Mifsud Matthew. Kataya Mohammad added his second of the match shortly after and Estanbolli Mohamad completed his hat trick after that.

Estanbolli Mohamad grabbed another before Malta finally responded when the ball was fired across the box for Smith David to tap home. Syria broke away almost instantly and again it was Estanbolli Mohamad who scored. He managed to collect the ball in acres of space and only had Mifsud Matthew to beat, he dribbled it around the stranded keeper and cheekily turned his back to goal, scoring with a back heeled effort which would have spurred any other team into action… but not Malta as they conceded yet another goal just before half time, Faouall Mostafa scoring this time.

Malta changed their keeper at half time hoping to improve their luck, but with Syria scoring 3 quick goals through Dyar Bakerli Mohamad Omar(2) and Najar Abd Albaset. Saliba Xavier scored a brace for Malta as both sides through defending out of the window and after that a goal glut occurred with both sides exchanging goals at either end, it reminded me of playground football as a kid. Estanbolli Mohamad sandwiched a goal for Syria as Scicluna replied for Malta in between. Cutajar John grabbed the next goal before Al Shehbi Eyad got one for Syria.

Kataya Mohammad scored a goal after getting up form the floor looking for a foul, he was booked for simulation, no place in football for that, let alone Futsal and he completed the scoring moments later.

Most valuable player Estanbolli Mohamad said after the match “I speak no English” But he looked elated after Syria won their first ever Futsal game.

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