Futsal Planet

Morocco vs Bosnia & Herzegovina

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by James Stringer from Tripoli

The match started brightly for both sides, Morocco had an early set of corners but found converting them to be very difficult against the highly organised Bosnian defence. Morocco didn’t have it all their own way as alic Alen hit the outside of the post after some nice work by the Bosnians. Morocco had chances as well, they failed to convert a goalmouth scramble and after that Melher Goran was booked for talking back to the referee.

Some fantastic reflex saves from Melher Goran kept the Bosnians in this game as the Moroccan’s rally pressed for the opening goal, spending the large majority of time in the oppositions half. Bosnia did have their chances as a corner from Becarovic Dusko was well worked but failed to come to anything other than go out over the byline.

Morocco almost let Harba Haris break but his first touch let him down, Crnalic Enez is shown his second yellow card and is sent off as Khayati Ismail is booked for I assume to be a reckless challenge and handbags shortly after. Khayati Ismail converts a goalmouth scramble to take the lead for Morocco and the 4 men of Bosnia get right back into this game as a ferocious strike from Mulahmetovic Nijaz leveled the game as half time approached.

Both sides had chances after the break but the game was mainly played out in midfield before Bosnia took the lead through Becarovic Dusko. His powerful strike from distance nestled nicely into the back of the net to give the Bosnians the lead for the first time in the match. Bosnia developed a new lease of life and had some of the better attacks out of the two teams but then suddenly Baya Yahya picked up the ball out wide and hammered it into the far corner to level matters.

A red card a piece then gave Morocco the impetus and with both sides down to 4 men each, Kayouri Hicham gets the ball down the right and nutmegs the keeper to restore Morocco’s lead. It gets better moments later as Khoukh Bouchaib hammers it home for Morocco, his celebration, dancing over the advertising, is better than his goal but they al count in this competition.

Bosnia weren’t out of this game by any stretch of the imagination and reduced the deficit with an amazing strike. Becarovic Dusko gets the ball from way out and unleashes a phenomenal strike low into the bottom corner from some distance as Bosnia began to fight back. alic Alen had a shot from distance that brought out a spectacular diving save from Zaari Rabie. Bosnia deployed the fly keeper and got caught on the break with Baya Yahya scoring from half way inside is own half, the longest goal of the tournament by far. It has to be said that the game didn’t flow freely and the straight red cards for deliberate elbows by Habil Adil of Morocco and Mulahmetovic Nijaz of Bosnia spoiled a good spectacle from both sides.

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