Courtesy: Koper 2008 Official Web Site


WUC Futsal - day 3 round up

by Damon Shaw


URU 1:7 (0:6) SRB
With both teams having qualified, this match was only about deciding who would top the group and who would avoid Slovenia in the quarter final. Uruguay didn't seem too bother and were more concerned about avoiding picking up suspensions going into the inevitible game versus the hosts. Within 15 seconds, Serbia rattled the bar after stealing the ball and counter attacking with pace. It wasn't much longer that Uruguay held out and it was an unfortunate own goal that gave Serbia the lead. After 10 minutes of the game Uruguay were trailing 4-0, mainly through opportunisitic Serbian efforts. Serbia tried to test the second choice goalkeeper on occasion and Santiago Perez was unable to keep out some powerful strikes. Lapse defending and a lack of pressure on the attackers gave Serbia a freedom deep in opposition territory, which allowed them such opportunities to strike at goal. Uruguay still tried to attack and had some good moves, but nothing that troubled the Serbian defence. The second half was much more even and Nicolas Pirotto added to his tally in the only real positive for Uruguay. Serbia will be confident going into the quarter final with a draw that pairs them with either China or Kazakhstan.






TUR 3:8 (2:2) FRA
Before the beginning of the match it was already known that neither France nor Turkey reach the top eight. However both teams wanted to win the first game in this Championship. First half of the match was very tough. Since the beginning both teams tried to score. First goal was scored by Murat Bozdemir (TUR). After that we could see lot of action and opportunities to score a goal but without any result. Finally Anoir Bentiri (FRA) broke this run of bad luck and scored equalizer. 2 minutes later his friend Pierre - Cedric Tia increased the lead to 1:2. Just before the end of the first half Nadim Burak Yildirim (TUR) scored equalizer and 1st half finished with a draw.
In the second part of the game we could see considerable advantage of France. After game restart France players scored 2 goals. Last ten minutes it was a series of shots and France increased a lead to 3:8. Last goal was scored after penalty kick 3 seconds before the end of the match.


KGZ 0:4 (0:2) UKR
Kyrgyzstan needed a win and for Portugal to lose against Slovakia to stand a chance of going through so the odds were stacked against them as they kicked off against favourites Ukraine. Ukraine had already qualified as group winners, so may have relaxed a little, and despite a game played in a very calm manner, Ukraine didn’t step down a gear at all. Kyrgyzstan, already traveling with a light squad, were down to 5 outfield players for this game though they dug in and defended well against Ukraine for large parts of the game. They also had an attacking threat, but Ukraine, so strong throughout their squad relaxed and picked off Kyrgyzstan with great professionalism. Their movement and understanding of the game is second to none and with individuals with the ability to play for the A team, Kyrgyzstan really didn’t have a hope. The final score was 5:0 to Ukraine, who will meet the winner of Israel and Czech Republic in the quarter final.






POR 1:1 (0:1) SVK
Before the match everybody knew that Portugal can not lose this game and Slovakia have to win if they want to play for higher places. Both teams played carefully at the beginning. However Portugal created much more opportunities to score and should lead in first half. Usually untapped occasions avenge and in 1st half, 2 minutes before the end, Slovakia scored the only goal in this part of the game.
Second half seemed to be different. Portugal played very smart futsal and very fast scored equalizer. Next part of the game was full of score opportunities and hard game. But it was really clear game what shows only one foul in the whole game. During last minutes Slovakia played with flying goalkeeper. To the last moment it was not clear what will be the final score.
The game finished with a draw 1:1. That meant that Portugal promoted to the top eight.


MAS 1:23 (0:10) BRA
Malaysia had the worst record so far, and then they had to face Brazil. Not something that any team having conceded 27 goals in two matches would want. It seems that Great Britain have found their match. Malaysia went on to record the biggest defeat of the tournament so far as Brazil racked up a 23-1 victory. Malaysia couldn't keep the Brazilians out as they ran riot in the Malaysia half. Clayton Szabo scored a double hat trick, and with three other hat tricks, Brazil will certainly be well represented in the top scorer charts. Malaysia suffered from a lack of ability to close down the brazilians and to track their deft movements, but they did, the few times they had the ball, try to go forward and had a few shots on goal to their credit. Malaysia look like heading for a showdown against GB for 15th place, unless they can make some wholesale changes in the next 24 hours!






CZE 8:6 (3:2) ISR
Second do or die match today - Israel vs. Czech Republic. Winner of this game plays in top eight. From the beginning both teams tried to defeat opponents defense. However Czech Republic players presented more effective futsal and they scored first goal. Game was getting more aggressive. Just after the first Czech scored the second goal. In that moment Izrael players picked up and 5 minutes before the end of the first part Lior Cohen (ISR) scored first goal. Afterwards we could see some very good defenses by goalkeeper of Israel. Last two minutes of the first half it was two successful shots for Czech Republic and Israel. First half finished with Czech lead 3:2.
In the second half we saw tough and close game with many shots for goal. In 27 minute Yehuda Zisman (ISR) scored an equalizer and during next five minutes his friends scored two more goals. Israel was leading 5:3. In 34' Czech Republic had an opportunity to score after 6th foul of Israel but they didn't use it. After that David Cupak (CZE) got second yellow card in this game and that forced his team to play in three. 2 minutes later they lost 6th goal. After Yoni Tapiero own goal and two Czech Republic players goals one minute before the end on the scoreboard was a draw 1:1. 27 seconds before the end after Vaclav Belada (CZE) penalty kick Czech was almost sure to play in top eight. 2 seconds to end Martin Hardina (CZE) increased the lead to 6:8. On Friday we will see Czech Republic playing for 1st - 8ht positions.


CHN 3:5 (2:3) SLO
The Slovenians scraped through last night with a narrow win over Kazakhstan but China would join them in the quarter final with a result against the hosts. China took a shock lead against the hosts through a deflected free kick, but Slovenia pulled one back just a couple of minutes later through Andrej Rutar. China restored their advantage almost immediately as Fei Yan finished from an acute angle as he received an inch perfect pass to the far post. Slovenia managed to draw level and scored seconds before the interval to take in a half time lead. The hosts, who are hoping to make full use of home advantage all but secured the victory, and first place in the group with their 4th goal from Daniel Pantic. China kept themselves within touching distance of the draw they needed to qualify but could never restore the lead they held for much of the first half. In the end, when news of the Kazakhstan result came through, and China were trailing 4-3, they simply played out time as they had done enough to go through on goal difference. Slovenia bagged a fifth seconds from time, but it didn't change a thing and both Slovenia and China qualify and will meet Uruguay and Serbia respectively in a battle for the semi final.






GBR 6:12 (3:6) KAZ
Game between Kazakhstan and Great Britain was quite tough at the beginning. First goal was scored during 4th minute by Mukhamediyarov (KAZ). Few minutes later Jones (GBR) scored first goal for Great Britain. Next part of the game was a series of shots on goal. Alternatively England and Kazakhstan scored a goal. 5 minutes to the end on the scoreboard was a draw 3:3. In last 3 minutes British poor defense was beaten 3 more times and first half finished 6:3 for Kazakhstan.
Second half Kazakhstan played almost all the time with flying goalkeeper. In the beginning they lost two goals - to empty goals. After that they found no resistance from England and scored next 5 goals. Five minutes to the end they was leading 11:5. Kazakhstan pushed Great Britain to the defense and in last minute they scored 12th goal in the game. In last minute Great Britain player Sion Kitson scored 6th goal. After that England had one more opportunity to score a penalty kick but they didn't use it and the game finished with Kazakhstan win 12:6.








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