Courtesy: FAI.ie


Ireland out of Futsal qualification hunt

Saturday, 22 January 2011

UEFA Futsal Championship 2012 qualifier

Republic of Ireland 0-5 Norway

The Republic of Ireland Futsal team's qualification hopes were extinguished on Friday night when a rampant Norway side overpowered them at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

A narrow defeat to Andorra 24 hours earlier in their opener meant Ireland needed a result but the Scandinavians followed up their 7-3 demolition of Israel with another comprehensive victory.

After an early spell where the sides were evenly matched, Norway bombed into a ninth minute lead from Klaussen's free-kick.

Alan McCabe went close four minutes later with Ireland's best chance of the half but slipped further behind on 16 minutes with a Johnsen goal before Norway twice missed from the penalty spot with attempts less than three minutes apart.

Joe Watson, Mark Langtry and Anthony Kane were all in the thick of the action in the second half as Ireland sought a response but they conceded a killer third goal nine minutes after the restart through Sortevik.

Ireland kept probing without finding their cutting edge up front - unlike the visitors who bagged two more in the final five minutes with strikes by Ravlo and Lundanes Jonvik.

Ireland will complete their group on Sunday against Israel, while Andorra and Norway meet in the qualification decider.

Ireland Futsal Squad: John Somers (Shamrock Rovers Futsal), Mark Langtry (Sporting Fingal Futsal / UCD), Ian Byrne (Shamrock Rovers Futsal), Philip McDonagh (Shamrock Rovers Futsal / Drumcondra FC), Ross Zambra (Sporting Fingal Futsal / Wayside Celtic), Dane Massey (Bray Wanderers), Joe Watson (Waterford Bohemians), Alan McCabe (AUL Futsal / Sherriff YC), Ian Carry (Sporting Fingal Futsal), Jack Doyle (Shamrock Rovers Futsal), Anthony Kane (AUL Futsal / Sherriff YC), Brendan Dawson (Shamrock Rovers Futsal).

Results and Fixtures:

Thursday, January 20 2011
Israel 3-7 Norway
Republic of Ireland 1-2 Andorra

Friday, January 21 2011
Andorra 4-1 Israel
Republic of Ireland 0-5 Norway

Sunday, January 23 2011
Norway v Andorra
Kick-off: 17.30
Israel v Republic of Ireland
Kick-off: 20.00


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