Futsal Planet

Croatia vs Slovenia

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

Mato Stankovic set up a potential dream final with his former employers when his young Croatia team saw off Slovenia in the first semi final of the Mediterranean Futsal Cup in a very tight game inspired by the excellent Josip Suton with four goals. It wasn’t decided until the last 10 minutes, up until then it was neck and neck but Croatia ran away 7-3 with 4 goals in the last quarter of the game.

Slovenia drew first blood in the battle of the Balkans as Ursic, who looked very dangerous in the opening exchanges found himself free in front of goal after some good work by his teammates and he finished in the only place possible, scooping high over Jukic in the Croatian goal. Ursic then showed his creative quality as he found his captain Ben Melink with an exquisite back heel but Melink could only shoot past the goalkeeper onto the bottom of the post.

Slovenia looked like the better side already and having only conceded 3 goals prior to this match Croatia would have to find something from somewhere. Marinovic had Croatia’s first good chance, as a long ball that the defender got his head to went up and looped down towards Dario Marinovic, but he couldn’t connect properly and the ball ended up in Mohoric’s hands.

Futsal Planet’s most valuable player stepped up to break the deadlock for Croatia but it was an unforced error by the Slovenians to allow Suton in. He intercepted a pass across the defence and was clear with the goalkeeper. He had to keep his composure and he did, dummying the shot and sending the keeper to ground to make it 1-1.

Slovenia got their noses back in front again through Rajko Ursic. Benjamin Melink makes a superb run to open up the defence and finds the perfect pass to Ursic who is free in the area again. This time he finishes to the right of the keeper who came out to close him down. It looked too easy and Croatia would have to tighten up at the back if they were to win this game.

Another error, this time by Mohoric in the Slovenia goal as he went down to collect what should have been a routine save, but before he could get his hands on the ball, Matija Dulvat had stole in and nicked the ball from under the keepers nose into the back of the net. Dulvat took a hit from the keeper but he doesn’t care as his side have equalised. Croatia were on the ascendancy and were carving out chances and attacking the goal, in which Mohoric looked less than confident after his earlier mistake.

Both side quickly racked up 5 fouls and at 2-2 a penalty could derail either sides hopes as we closed in on half time. Slovenia ended the half with two good chances. Cujec hit a fierce shot that the goalkeeper got a hand to to put out for a corner and Benjamin Melink, the driving force for Slovenia in the first half ran forward and elected to shoot when he had Pertic in a much better position and sure would have scored.

Slovenia were the better team in the first half, slightly, but it could go either way. Croatia went ahead for the first time in the game in the second half just 4 minutes in. Dario Marinovic, such an important player for Croatia drew his opponent on to him on the left wing before going past him and squaring for Josip Suton. The two star men combining to give Croatia the advantage.

It didn’t take long for Slovenia to get back on level terms and it was a somewhat fortunate effort and Sebastijan Drobne diverted in a cross ball, without knowing all that much about it! It was 3-3 and Slovenia started to take the game to Croatia once more. However, Dario Marinovic was quick to seize on a loose ball, taking it with his first touch towards Slovenia’s goal. He dribbled past one, and fakes a shot he had a good option to his left but opted to shoot. It hit the goalkeeper but it went in nevertheless off the post. Slovenia called a timeout to regroup as they were clearly rattled and looking nervous. It didn’t help as almost straight after the restart, Josip Sutton intercepted a pass deep in Slovenian territory and unleashed a toe poke into the back of the net. It was 5-3 and that was his hattrick.

Slovenia now went with a flying goalkeeper to try and get back into the game. It needed to be done carefully and patiently and Croatia were sat deep. They could sense a place in the final was coming. And then it was all but confirmed... Flying goalkeeper doesn't work and Slovenia concede. Gaj Rosic, in the GK jersey lost possession and Novak went on to score, despite the best efforts of the Slovenians to take him down!

It was game over at 6-3 and Slovenia carried on looking for the goal that might spark a late comeback, but another pass that went astray fell straight to Josip Suton who shot first time from the edge of his own area to score the 7th and book a place in the final.

Suton picked up his second Futsal Planet MVP award and was delighted to be in the final. And said that he would prefer Libya. “We would prefer Libya in the final and whether we win or lose is ok. To play in front of 5,000 fans would be amazing.”

Libya now have their part of the bargain to keep as they take on France in the second semi final at the 23rd September Hall in Tripoli. Slovenia will face the losing team of Libya and France in the 3rd place playoff.

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