Courtesy: The Daily Star


Cedars finish sixth after futsal defeat to Morocco

by James Stringer (Special to The Daily Star)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

TRIPOLI, Libya: Lebanon lost out on fifth place Wednesday going down 6-2 to an effervescent Morocco in the Mediterranean Futsal Cup. The Moroccans had the most of the possession early in the game but the first chance came after Takaji Khaled made space down the left hand side and shot across goal.

Lebanon linked well in the next move as Atwi Hayssam, Kawsan Kassem and Khaled all linked well with some slick passing in the Moroccan box only for the keeper to shield the ball out of play. Al-Kakhi Rabie Jamil was called into action next after he saved what looked like the opening goal of the game, diving at the feet of Khoukh Bouchaib to deny the Moroccan of the first goal.

Fans were then treated to a fantastic flowing move for the first goal. Derrou Aziz played a defense splitting ball through to Baya Yahya to fire in at the far post. Hicham flashed a shot wide that was close to increasing the lead for Morocco as Lebanon looked for a way back into the match. It was all Morocco, though, as Aziz hammered a shot at goal only for Jamil to touch it away for a corner. Morocco got its second goal after that, as Yahya fired a shot into the box that was turned into the goal from Itani Mahmoud to score an own goal.

Hammoud Ibrahim had a shot that sailed over as Lebanon again pressed for a goal but a good corner from Morocco almost caught them out as Ait Moulay Mahjoub connected but his tame shot was just over the bar. Lebanon broke shortly after and Hayssam hit it against the post from about 10 meters out. The game started to really open up as Yahya took a wild shot at goal that ended up in row Z.

Lebanon got the perfect start to the second half when Kassem found the target after an exquisite pass from Hayssam to reduce the deficit. Moments later, Lebanon got caught on the break and Aziz scored into an empty net as he played a lovely one – two with Bouchaib. Tempers flared as Kassem was sent off for throwing the ball into the face of a Moroccan player. The Moroccans surged forward following the dismissal and were unlucky not to extend their lead when Yahya hit the post from a good flowing move, moments later he scored. Morocco were dominating this game and some neat passing opened it up for Bouabid Mohammad to score and Yahya scored a delightful goal when some fantastic individual skill left Jamil with no chance from close range. Khaled grabbed a goal back for Lebanon and it was unlucky when Hayssam had a shot that was cleared off the line by Aziz. The final buzzer sounded shortly afterwards and Morocco celebrated as they had secured fifth place in the championship.


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