Courtesy: FFA



Malaysia no match for Qantas Futsalroos

Thursday, 31 January 2008

The Qantas Futsalroos have moved a step closer to a place in the semi finals of the lucrative KL World 5’s Futsal Tournament, after smashing host nation Malaysia 7-0 in Kuala Lumpur.

A sensational start, which saw Australia scored two goals in the first minute, meant there was only going to be one winner, although Australian coach Scott Gilligan was more pleased that his team managed to keep a clean sheet.

The only sour note though was a serious injury to goalkeeper Gavin O’Brien, who may have broken his arm.

A win later on the same night against England would secure a berth in the semi finals, where they would play-off for a very tidy sum of USD$50,000.

Australia’s goals saw Adrian Vizzari, Simon Keith and Fernando de Moraes both score two goals, while Italian-based Greg Giovenali grabbed a single.

The match was only seconds old, when Australia was awarded a penalty for a handball in the D and Vizzari made no mistake. However there more joy from the re-start, with Australia winning possession and Brazilian-born Fernando was on the spot to smash home.

Australia was now playing with a great deal of confidence and produced two stunning goals before the break. The first by Fernando involved some slick one-touch passing from each of the players, which had the Malaysians bamboozled and Fernando finished off the sensational attack. This was followed by Keith’s first goal in the 15th minute, with more one-touch passing involving several players and finished well by the New South Welshman.

Giovenali made it five two minutes into the break and was quickly followed by goal to Keith and Vizzari.

With such a commanding lead, Australian thrusts started to lack some of the earlier urgency, but Gilligan was more than pleased that his side didn’t concede a goal to the hosts.

A win over England later that would keep Australia level with defending champions Argentina (2003), with their match on Friday to decide the group winner.

Match Details

Malaysia 0
Australia 7 (Adrian Vizzari 1’/25’, Fernando de Moraes 1’/12’, Simon Keith 15’/24’, Greg Giovenali 22’)

Starting side: Peter Spathis (gk); Fernando de Moraes, Greg Giovenali, Daniel Macor, Adrian Vizzari
Subs Used: Gavin O’Brien (gk); Simon Keith, Lachlan Wright, Luke Haydon, Trent Flanigan, Danny Ngaluafe




Courtesy: FFA


Big win secures semi final for Qantas Futsalroos

Friday, 1 February 2008

The Qantas Futsalroos have continued on their winning ways and booked a place in the semi finals of the KL World 5s Futsal Tournament, with a 6-1 win over England.

The result now means Australia’s final group match against Argentina today, will decide who wins the group and avoid tournament favourites Brazil in the semi final, who have already their place as Group B winner.

All the goals came in the first half, with Australia putting on a terrific exhibition of Futsal to overpower English.

Again Australia got off to a blistering start, like they did earlier in the day against Malaysia, with Greg Giovenali opening the scoring in the 1st minute. It was 2-0 three minutes later when Fernando de Moraes continued his impressive debut tournament for Australia with another goal.

Two goals in the 6th minute from Trent Flanigan and Luke Haydon had the game well in Australia’s keeping.

Giovenali scored his second in the 10th minute, only for England to strike back straight away to make it 5-1. Daniel Macor added a late goal in the first half to see the score at 6-1 at the break, which neither side was able to add to in the second half.





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