Futsal Planet

Greece vs Turkey

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by Damon Shaw from Tripoli

Turkey claimed 9th place with a dramatic shootout win over Greece despite letting a 2 goal lead slip and almost losing it when Greece had a 10 metre penalty in the dying seconds. The shootout was tense and ended 8-7 to Turkey.

The opening 10 minutes was fairly uneventful, both sides trying to keep things tight but then just like London buses two goals came in quick succession. Turkey took the lead before Greece levelled almost instantly. Yildirim turned and scored with his left foot beyond Theofilou in the Greek goal.

Big Eleftherios Kouvaras then scored after good work on the right by Raptis to round the keeper and send it back across goal. It wasn’t straight forward for him though as two defenders were between him and the goal. He made no mistake though and powered in the equaliser.

Turkey then took the initiative and went in to a 2-1 lead for the half time break. Omer Kaner, former Fenerbahce coach, called a timeout and his players instantly responded. Koseoglu stole in from a well worked kick in that was obviously set up in the time out.

Greece and Turkey both had chances to score before the break but it was 2-1 at half time. Turkey had conceded 13 in two games so Greece must have been confident until Turkey doubled their advantage in the 27th minute for forcing Greece to play with a flying goalkeeper for the last 9 minutes.

Turkey’s third was a brilliant piece of play, a knock down by Kurtay and when the keeper closed down Canoglu he cheekily dinked it over to score.

Greece could have had one, but Akbas in the Turkey goal was in superb form, smothering Manos’ shot when he was certain to score. With 8 minutes left Stefanos Soilemos put on Gkritzalis as a flying goalkeeper to try to get back into it. A good move by Greece and Raptis is free in the box but he shoots over in an open goal, perhaps being taken out in the process, but nothing given. He should have scored.

Greece did leave it late and it was only with 3 minutes on the clock they got their first goal in the comeback. Kouvaras made space on the edge of the area and turned a shot low to send the Greek bench wild. Kouvaras was influential in the next goal as well and he rounded the goalkeeper and sent it back across the goal for Delaportas to score.

Greece could have won it in an amazing turnaround when they had a 10 metre penalty in the last minute, but Akbas was the hero to keep Turkey in the game and heading for a penalty shootout.

The shootout ended 8-7 to Turkey in sudden death. The highlight was Turkey captain scoring with his standing foot leaving the goalkeeper routed to the spot. It was a dangerous kick, but it came off. Uluc Ugur scored the winning penalty after Akbas had made a superb save to deny Raptis.

MVP was Greece’s Eleftherios Kouvaras who scored two and set up one in the game, he also scored his penalty.

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