Courtesy: Dive.com

Malta goes down heavily to Cyprus as futsal national team debuts

by Chris Galea, di-ve sports

Malta - Cyprus 1-7
Thursday, January 18, 2007

Malta's only missing link in men's football on the international scene was filled, when the newly set up futsal national team made its debut in the UEFA Futsal Championship for Nations.

The historical match was played against Cyprus at the Corradino Pavillion in Paola, as part of the preliminary round mini-tournament being staged in Malta.

The match was a reality check for the Maltese team, as the outcome would give an indication whether the national team would be fighting to obtain only a one-off positive result against fellow minnows even in this category or whether the aspirations could be set at least slightly higher.

The task ahead of the team for its debut was however to say the least daunting, as Cyprus are probably the toughest opponents in the four-team group, which also comprises Kazakhstan and Georgia.

Fear and excitement take their toll

Tyron Borg and Robert Magro had the honour to kick off the match, which was played in front of a sizeable crowd of a few hundred people that encouraged the Maltese team.

The reds took some time to settle in, perhaps due to the excitement, and Igor DASAEV was there to punish them as he drove home to give Cyprus an early lead after only a few minutes.

The first evident difference between futsal and the 11-aside football people are used to was noticed when Malta's coach Michael Striz applied the rotation and changed all the outfield players in play at one go. Cypriot coach Petros Konstantinou soon followed suit and sent in four pairs of fresh legs as well.

The Cypriots tried to push forward to extend their lead, but their siege was hitting against a brave wall that resisted and tried to respond on the counter-attack. However, many attacks proved futile as the Maltese found difficulty in passing, particularly as their opponents were pressing high up the pitch.

Malta had their custodian Vassallo to thank for a string of excellent saves that kept the team in the match, but not even he could do anything when POLYVIOU was allowed a one-on-one situation midway through the half. The Cypriot had no difficulty in transforming the opportunity and double the lead.

The reds had a couple of good chances, but it was Cyprus who again extended their lead. Captain Dimitriou, who was one of the best players for his team, found MANOLI unmarked on the left wing, and the forward fired a low drive in the bottom corner from the angle.

Another noticeable difference in futsal was seen a few minutes before half time, when Mr.Striz called a one-minute time-out to give his instructions to the players. A few minutes later, even Cyprus made use of their time-out, of which each team is allowed to make one per half.

On to the second half, the Maltese had a couple of early chances but lacked in cynicism, a quality that Cyprus proved to have as they responded immediately with two quick goals from MANOLI and POLYVIOU.

The goals disheartened the Maltese and the score began to assume gigantic proportions, particularly as CHRISTODOLOU scored another two, one from a set-piece tactic and another by simply pushing the ball which was rolling on the line following a corner, as he was left unmarked by the Maltese defence.

Despite the heavy scoreline, the crowd exploded in joy as CUTAJAR scored the first ever Maltese goal in futsal at the end of a good action by the whole team.

The goal was however a bit too little too late, as the game ended with the score of seven goals to one.

Although the hopes of reaching the target of qualification have received a big setback, everything will depend on the next match against Kazhakstan, who earlier in the day beat Georgia 4-1. The game is scheduled for Friday at 1830CET at the Corradino Pavilion.

The preliminary round has four groups of four teams, with the winners of each group and the best two second-placed teams qualifying to take on the 23 top nations in the qualifying rounds later in the year.

Futsal is a different game from football -- Striz

Speaking to www.di-ve.com after the match, Czech coach Michael Striz -- who has led his home country for seven years and taken them to 3rd place in the 2003 European Futsal Competition -- was realistic as to the team's current possibilities.

Mr.Striz noted that this was the first match for his team, who only had three months to prepare itself as opposed to the other teams in the group who even have professional futsal players within their ranks.

"Improvement is possible, but I need to take players from football and teach them futsal, which is a very different game from normal football and therefore needs different skills, technique and ball control," Mr.Striz told www.di-ve.com.

The national team coach attributed the heavy defeat against Cyprus to the nervousness and fear that his players felt on their debut, referring also to the difference in physical condition and the much greater experience of the opponents who have been playing the game for years.

Formations:

Malta - Vassallo, Bilocca (c), Borg, Magro, Cutajar; Ellul Sullivan, Bray, Bugeja, Caruana, Gatt, Gialanze, Portelli.

Cyprus - Skampilis, Dimitriou (c), Dasaev, Zampas, Polyviou; Antoniou, Angelidis, Christodolou, Georghiou, Manoli, Papadopoulos, Vassiliou.





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