Futsal Planet

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Tunisia

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by Damon Shaw from Tripoli

Bosnia and Herzegovina took revenge for the group stage defeat to Tunisia with a strong 5-2 victory and finished in 7th place in the 1st Mediterranean Futsal Cup. Tunisia hadn’t looked the same team since the group stage and end up with 8th place, a good achievement for a team ranked 70th in the world.

Haris Harba opened the scoring early when he pounced on captain Alen Lalic’s strike that the goalkeeper tipped onto the bar. It bounced down and Haris Harba was there to touch it in.

They linked up again moments later. A shot from 15 metres by Lalic was heading straight for Harba who was in front of the goalkeeper. He didn’t get a touch, but his mere presence put the goalkeeper off as the ball passed through his legs and into the bottom corner.

Lalic was then instrumental in the third as he played an inch perfect pass through to Maid Ramic who took a touch and finished in off the post past the outrushing goalkeeper. 3-0 down in just under four minutes and Tunisia took a much needed time out to hopefully stop the rot.

Immediately Tunisia started to press and tried to control the game while Bosnia were sitting in their own half, content to allow Tunisia time on the ball.

Tunisia did what they do best to get one back and it was a typical Tunisian counter attack. Ben Brahim Ali found Mazhoud who was lurking at the far post for a simple finish.

Alen Lalic restored Bosnia’s 3 goal advantage as Tunisia poured forward and it was them who were counter attacked. It was two versus one as Tomislav Bevinda broke and found his captain on the left. A simple finish for him and he was on fire, playing a part in all four goals so far.

A superb double block by Jeljiji prevented Bosnia and Herzegovina scoring their fifth.

Tunisia scored as the buzzer went at the end of the first half. It was a superb intricate move on the edge of the area that saw Jeljiji exchanged passes with Issam Abidi who had to slide in to turn the ball back into the net. Four two at half time and it was far from over.

In the second half, Tunisia almost gitfted Bosnia’s fifth as they took a kick that wasn’t well rehearsed. A misplaced pass sent Alen Lalic through on goal and he was bearing down on the goalkeeper with a defender chasing back. The pressure from Trabelsi was enough though to put Lalic off as he shot just wide.

Lalic could have scored his third as Goran Gavric held the ball up in the corner before playing the ball across. Lalic arrived just a fraction too late to turn it in. Lalic was everywhere today and thoroughly deserved to lead his team to 7th place and in the process too the Futsal Planet MVP award.

Novoselac wrapped up the game with five minutes remaining and for once Lalic wasn’t involved. Bosnia and Herzegovina broke and Novosalec went alone and shot when he approached the area. The goalkeeper may have done better, but nobody could deny that Bosnia had been the better team today.

Finishing 5-2 in favour of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was a fantastic turnaround since their group stage defeat to the Tunisians. Tunisia had had the steam knocked out of them in defeat to France in the quarter final after a very impressing group stage, where they finished top.

They will be happy with the 8th placed finish after coming here only to reach the quarter finals, which they did with style. Bosnia and Herzegovina may be disappointed with 7th but they came up against Slovenia in the quarter finals who were the form team at that point.

Alen Lalic, MVP for his part in the first four goals and solid defensive display: a real captain’s performance.

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