The Futsalroos have bowed out of the AFC Futsal Championship and a subsequent place at the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year, after they were beaten by Thailand 5-2 in their quarter final clash in Bangkok.
Fernando de Moraes scored a double for Australia, but it wasn’t enough against the hosts, who got off to a quickfire start and backed by a vocal crowd, never looked like surrendering their lead.
With captain Lachlan Wright and Chris Zeballos suspended, Australia was somewhat behind the eight-ball to start with, but the two goals by Eakapong Suratsawang in the opening seven minutes was a killer for Scott Gilligan’s team.
De Moraes pulled a goal in the 14th minute, but three minutes later Thailand regained their two goal advantage.
Australia with the help of an extra man, following the dismissal of a Thai player started to gain some control and scored a fine goal to pull the score back to 3-2.
But with five minutes remaining, Thailand’s captain Panuwat Janta eased Thai fans nerves with a goal from close range and for the second game running, Gilligan took off his goalkeeper for an extra attacker in search of goals.
The goals never came and Panomkorn walked the ball into the net for the Thais fifth goal after he dispossessed the last defender.
A disappointed Gilligan lamented the loss of Wright and Zeballos, given they had provided the team with valuable goals in the group matches.
“I think the turning point was the game before when we had two suspended players,” he said.
“Both were the two leading goal scorers in the team for this tournament and it was pretty obvious that that was going to affect us.”
“Obviously not going to the World Cup is very disappointing and that’s the issue.”
Only the top four teams from the AFC Futsal Championship progressed to the Futsal World Cup later this in Brazil, which will not feature an Australian team for the first time in the competitions history.
Source : The World Game
Published : 16/5/2008 11:21
The Qantas Futsalroos will miss the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time after a 5-2 loss to Thailand in the quarter final stage of the Asian Football Confederation’s Futsal Championships in Bangkok overnight.
The four semi-finalists at the 16 nation tournament – Thailand, China, Japan and Iran – will represent Asia at October’s FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil.Australia were hamstrung by the absence of key suspended duo Lachlan Wright and Chris Zeballos, and the home team backed by a large vocal crowd raced to a 3-1 half time lead.
Australia pulled back to 3-2 with Fernando de Moreas scoring his second of the night before Thailand scored twice in the final five minutes.
“I think the turning point was the game before when we had two suspended players,” said coach Scott Gilligan.
“Both were the two leading goal scorers in the team for this tournament and it was pretty obvious that that was going to significantly affect us.”
Australia had previously appeared in all five editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup dating back to 1989.
Source : Australian Four Four Two
Published : 16/5/2008 14:06
ANOTHER Macarthur area athlete has achieved his lifelong dream of representing Australia.
Dean Lockhart, a product of The Grange Public School and Leumeah High School, made his national debut for the Futsalroos against New Zealand in a futsal friendly two weeks ago at Dural.
A member of Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club, Lockhart received his green and gold call-up the day before his 21st birthday.
“It was the best present I could have every asked for,” he said. “I have played futsal all my life and love the game immensely. I went to school for six months in Brazil when I was 17, to study and learn more about futsal.
“It seems all that work has paid off.”
Lockhart scored a goal on debut before heading off with the Futsalroos for the Asian Cup in Thailand. He and Aussie teammates Tuan Cao and Simon Keith, also of Campbelltown, are on a mission in Bangkok.
The Asian Cup is a qualifying tournament for the World Cup in Rio de Janierio later this year and the Futsalroos, under the guidance of Minto coach Scott Gilligan, must finish in the top four of the tournament to qualify.
Source : Macarthur Chronicle
Published : 13/5/2008 12:01am
BANGKOK – Jose Maria Parzos Mendez expressed his delight after Thailand progressed to the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship with a 5-2 defeat of Australia. Eakapong Suratsawang and Panomkorn Saisorn each scored twice as the hosts booked their ticket to the last four, earning a place at the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year in the process.
And Mendez admitted his satisfaction at the result after just two months in the coaching hotseat – but the Spaniard warned against complacency with China next up in the last four.
“For me it’s very, very important to reach the World Cup because I only arrived here two months ago,” said Mendez.
“We have had a very short time to change many things with the players because the Thai mentality is very different to the Spanish mentality.
“We worked very, very hard.”
Thailand’s route to the semi-finals saw them pitted against Iraq, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Australia – and overcoming that opposition has pleased Mendez greatly.
“We are very happy because we’ve not had an easy way,” he said.
“But China will not be easy – all semi-final teams are very good.”
Mendez had sympathy for Australia, who were without captain Lachlan Wright and Christopher Zeballos – the duo were suspended for the quarter-final match.
“Australia showed they are a very, very good team – it’s a shame there is not a place at the World Cup for both teams,” Mendez added.
“They showed today they are very strong and they were without two of their best players.”
The future for Australia coach Scott Gilligan is uncertain after the loss.
Gilligan believes Football Federation Australia may even relieve him of his position.
“I have been given a position with Oceania but I don’t know if the FFA will even retain me at this stage – I can’t answer that question,” he said.
“Obviously not going to the World Cup is very disappointing and that’s the issue.”
Gilligan was adamant the absences of Wright and Zeballos were the main contributing factors to the loss.
“I think the turning point was the game before when we had two suspended players,” he added.
“Both were the two leading goal scorers in the team for this tournament and it was pretty obvious that that was going to affect us.”
Source : www.the-AFC.com
Published : 15/5/2008
The Qantas Socceroos have bowed out of the AFC Futsal Championship and a subsequent place at the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year, after they were beaten by Thailand 5-2 in their quarter final clash in Bangkok.
Fernando de Moraes scored a double for Australia, but it wasn’t enough against the hosts, who got off to a quickfire start and backed by a vocal crowd, never looked like surrendering their lead.
With captain Lachlan Wright and Chris Zeballos suspended, Australia was somewhat behind the eight-ball to start with, but the two goals by Eakapong Suratsawang in the opening seven minutes was a killer for Scott Gilligan’s team.
De Moraes pulled a goal in the 14th minute, but three minutes later Thailand regained their two goal advantage.
Australia with the help of an extra man, following the dismissal of a Thai player started to gain some control and scored a fine goal to pull the score back to 3-2.
But with five minutes remaining, Thailand’s captain Panuwat Janta eased Thai fans nerves with a goal from close range and for the second game running, Gilligan took off his goalkeeper for an extra attacker in search of goals.
The goals never came and Panomkorn walked the ball into the net for the Thais fifth goal after he dispossessed the last defender.
A disappointed Gilligan lamented the loss of Wright and Zeballos, given they had provided the team with valuable goals in the group matches.
“I think the turning point was the game before when we had two suspended players,” he said.
“Both were the two leading goal scorers in the team for this tournament and it was pretty obvious that that was going to affect us.
“Obviously not going to the World Cup is very disappointing and that’s the issue.”
Only the top four teams from the AFC Futsal Championship progressed to the Futsal World Cup later this in Brazil, which will not feature an Australian team for the first time in the competitions history.
Source : Football Australia
Published : 15/5/2008
BANGKOK – Thailand edged through to the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship with a 5-2 victory over Australia at Nimibutr Stadium.The hosts were in front throughout after Eakapong Suratsawang scored twice in the first seven minutes and they went on to seal a last-four match against China and qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil later this year.
Australia were without captain Lachlan Wright and Christopher Zeballos through supension, while Ukrit Taengtung was banned for the hosts, who had won all three of their preliminary round matches.
Jose Maria Parzos Mendez feared Australia’s physicality prior to the match but his Thailand side swiftly eased his concerns.
Eakapong scored a quickfire double to put Thailand in the ascendancy.
Fernando Lima de Moraes pulled one back for Australia after 14 minutes but Thailand reclaimed their two-goal advantage shortly before half-time.
Panomkorn Saisorn netted after 17 minutes to give the hosts, who were backed by a vociferous support, a 3-1 lead.
Australia tightened up in the second half and held Thailand at bay before Ekkaphan Suratsawang was dismissed for a second yellow card with 15 minutes remaining.
Scott Gilligan’s side pulled a goal back three minutes later when De Moraes scored his second of the game, tucking in from a tight angle.
But Thailand captain Panuwat Janta eased the pressure on his side, scoring from close range with five minutes remaining.
Gilligan was forced to resort to power-play tactics but Australia could not take advantage of the extra player in attack and Panomkorn dispossessed the last defender before walking the ball into the net for his second and Thailand’s fifth.
Source : www.the-AFC.com
Published : 15/5/2008
KUALA LUMPUR: Australia will be missing the services of Lachlan Wright and in-form Christopher Zeballos in their AFC Futsal Championship quarter-final against hosts Thailand on Thursday through suspension.Wright scored a hat-trick in the Australians’ 6-0 victory over Chinese Taipei while Zeballos was on target in all the three group games.
According to the disciplinary list issued by AFC after the group stage, Wright received two cautions in different games against Turkmenistan and Japan, while Zeballos was cautioned in two separate games against Chinese Taipei and Japan.
Thailand’s Ukrit Taengtung, who received two cautions in separate games against Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrgyzstan’s Emil Kanetov, who was cautioned against Iraq and Thailand, will also be ineligible to play in their respective quarter-final games.
Kyrgyzstan will take on last year’s runners-up Japan in the last eight encounter on Thursday. In the other quarter-finals, defending champions Iran will face Lebanon while Uzbekistan take on China the same day.
Source : www.the-AFC.com
Published : 14/5/2008
The winter state league jumped into round 3 at the States Sports Centre on Monday night 13th May, and we were treated to a great night of futsal action.
The fans packed in to see Campbelltown Quake take on joint league leaders the Inner West Allstars in what was arguably the best game of the night. From beginning to end the game was played at a furious pace with great opportunities going to both sides. Early on Inner West took control with early chances falling to Jeff Bugallo and Jacob Di Mento before Quake hit back with a close chance from Ediz Alpkaya. Just when it looked like neither side could penetrate the other, a swift series of interchange passing allowed Jeff Bugallo to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle; he followed up a few minutes later by grabbing his second of the game thanks to a great run by Shervin Adeli.
Quake weren’t fazed by the two goal cushion and continued to play their game and got their reward just before the break with Daniel Martinez astutely chipping the keeper sending the crowd in a frenzy.
The second half began as the first did with blistering attacks and counters only this time Quake got in first with Tim Simpson getting an equaliser after unleashing an unstoppable shot. Inner West replied immediately with Shervin Adeli and he duly dispatched the ball home sending them in front 3 – 2. The game had now reached fever pitch as tackles began to fly in and fouls building up, both sides continued to push and in a matter of minutes goals came to Tim Simpson putting the game on a tightrope, but amazingly Inner West hit back with a goal to Jacob Di Mento after slotting underneath the keeper, only for Quake to snatch two more to Daniel Martinez giving him his hat trick and an unbelievable 5 – 4 lead. Quake had the opportunity to further increase their lead but missed a series of 10 meter penalty kicks before the referee blew the whistler to end a brilliant contest.
The ladies game of the night was between Campbelltown Quake and Sydney Tragic. In what was a great display of technical skill and movement the ladies put on a futsal clinic, utilising the 5th man to apply more pressure to the opposition’s defense. Chances fell to Clare Walsh for Quake and Natasha Lo Giudice for Tragic but they failed to convert. The game was played intensely with both sides trying not to make any errors ending scoreless at the break.
The second half saw both teams try valiantly to pierce and circumnavigate the opposition’s defence only to have both sides’ respective keepers Tragic’s Mel McCauley and Quake’s Stephanie Haim pull of some great saves. The only goal of the game came to Natalie Spirovski after great build up play from Joanne Saliba and Kahlee Doyle, and that’s how the game finished. Both sides can be proud of how they played but this time the Sydney Tragic’s got the better of Quake.
Coming off a last minute loss to All Stars in Round 2, Dural made their intentions known early with an aggressive start. Two minutes into the game Toby Seeto from Dural hit the post with a low shot and followed up a minute later with a more successful result by rounding the Maccabi keeper, John Myers, for a simple roll into the net. Another minute and it was 2-0 when a pass down the line by Toby found Adam Bradley who shot the ball under the keeper. It was 5 minutes before Maccabi managed to get the ball out of their half for the first time and they were rewarded 11 minutes into the game with a goal by Paul Meltz into the top left corner. Both keepers then made several saves and the score remained 2-1 at half time. After the break, an Adam Bradley cross to the far post to a waiting Michael Thornton was deflected into his own goal by an unlucky Gareth New. Four minutes before the end another cross at an acute angle by Ben Lawson gave Toby his second goal. A final break by Maccabi was stifled when an alert Allister Hercus came smartly off his line to block the shot. The game ended with Dural getting the win with a commanding 4 – 1 performance.
Other results of the night were:
Men-
West City Crusaders 6 (Guilherme Souza x 2, Luie Gimenez x 4)
Sydney City Eagles 2 (David Da Fonseca x 2)
Dural Warriors 4 (Adam Bradley x 2, Toby Seetho x 2)
Maccabi 1 (Sam Bend)
Commordores 9 ( Scott Dingwall x 3, Chris Dingwell x 2, Geoff Turner x 3, Nathan Wynn)
Shire Futsal 2 (Tim Scouros, Scott Farahar)
Northern Beaches 2 (Engelo Rumora, Brendon Bush)
Parramatta Blues 2 (Justin Mcleay, Goran Ljuboja)
Campbelltown Quake 5 (Daniel Martinez x 3, Tim Simpson x 2)
Inner West Allstars 4 (Jeff Bugallo x 2, Jacob Di Mento, Shervin Adeli)
Sydney Benfica 8 (Falvio Moreira, Osmar Barros x 2, Itua Baptista x 2, Ricardo Gomes x2,Rui Hatly)
Plumpton 4 (Troy Eedy x 2, Evan Daglis, Daniel Fogarty)
Women-
Liverpool Fusion 2 (Samantha Muscat, Nichole Laws)
Dural Warriors 1 (Jaqui Frier)
Sydney Tragic 1 (Natalie Spirovski)
Campbelltown Quake 0
Sydney City Eagles 2 (Melissa Link, Jodie Bain)
Inner West Allstars 2 (Amanda Horafios, Elyce Goss)
Source : Football NSW
Published : 15/4/008
The Qantas Socceroos have given group favourites Japan an almighty scare in the final Group B game at the AFC Futsal Championship in Bangkok, eventually going down 4-2 after leading 2-0 at the break.
In a highly entertaining clash, the match was in the balance right to the end, when Japan scored a final goal right on full time, with Australia having sacrificed its keeper in attempting to find an equalising goal.
Chris Zeballos and Luke Haydon scored Australia’s goals to give Australia a commanding half time lead, but Japan, one of the favourites in the tournament, showed their class and came back strong in the second half against a tiring Australian side and claim top spot of the group ahead of the Aussies.
Australia will now play host nation Thailand in the quarter finals on Thursday, with the winner making it to the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup being held in Brazil in October.
Japan started strongly and experienced Australian keeper Gavin O’Brien had to stand tall twice to deny Japan taking the lead.
Adrian Vizzari had Australia’s first good chance when he rattled the woodwork with a thunderous strike, but it wasn’t long before they had the lead after 13 minutes. Zeballos mazy run up the field rewarded when he shot past Japanese keeper Hisao Sadanaga into the top corner.
Three minutes later, Haydon made it 2-0 when he broke free and then beat the charging Sadanaga with a neat drag of the ball and slotted into the empty net.
The second half started with both sides attacking, O’Brien making a full-length save to push away a Japanese shot, while Danny Ngaluafe also hit the woodwork after showing a sublime piece of skill to create the opening for himself.
Japan then pulled a goal back after 25 minutes when Kanayama slid in at the far post to guide home and three minutes later it was all level, when Ono turned and fired home.
With momentum going their way, Japan made it 3-2 in the 32nd minute, when Yusuke Inada side-footed home.
In a dramatic finish, Vizzari thought he had netted an equaliser for Australia, but his attempt was scrambled off the line.
Japan then sealed the match when Komiyama fired home from inside his own half with Australia pushing earnestly for the equaliser and sacrificing O’Brien for an extra attacker.
Australian coach Scott Gilligan was full of praise for his side and can take some confidence that they pushed one of the favourites right till the end.
“We played well today but we showed while we’ve got a lead, we still have problems keeping possession in the second half,” he said.
“I reiterated that at half-time and I think we turned it over too cheaply at times but when you’re chasing the game, you’re always getting more tired.
“Aussies always have a lot of courage and the boys were hurting in that second half.
“I think that’s one of the major problems. In Australia we play running clock and not stop clock and it shows at the back end of each game, so we’re still getting used to the conditioning.
“But I can’t fault the guys, first-half I thought we were tremendous. Obviously they had some chances too but we took ours and they didn’t and in the second-half they took theirs and we didn’t. We still made some chances. It was unfortunate but that’s the way it goes.
“Certainly our team has grown in stature and I know that while the next game will be tough, we’ll be ready.”
The match against Thailand kicks off at 6pm AEST on Thursday.
Source : Football Australia
Published : 14/5/2008
BANGKOK – Jose Maria Parzos Mendez fears his Thailand side will struggle to cope with the physicality of Australia in the quarter-final of the AFC Futsal Championship on Thursday.
The hosts qualified for the last eight as Group A winners, while Australia finished runners-up to Japan in Group B, and the teams now compete for a semi-final place at Nimibutr Stadium.
Thailand has a 100% record in the competition after three wins out of three in the preliminary round, but Mendez believes Australia is a real threat to his side’s bid for a FIFA Futsal World Cup berth.
“I don’t like the Australian team because it is very physical, the players are very big,” he said.
“Australia has competitive spirit and they have grown up a lot in the last few years.
“They have played in the last two World Cups I think and are an experienced group – they have played together many times.”
Thailand edged Kyrgyzstan 3-1 to claim the first qualifying place for the knockout stages, but Mendez admits his side have not achieved anything yet.
“We only need one more win to go to the World Cup, at the moment we get nothing,” Mendez added.
“It’s the same situation at the start, it’s the same situation as yesterday.
“If we lose on Thursday, we haven’t done nothing – if we win, then we go to the World Cup.”
Australia coach Scott Gilligan believes Thailand have improved beyond recognition in recent years but remains confident of success.
“Thailand have improved out of sight,” he said.
“They won’t be any different to Japan so we’ve got to be on our game but I think we can win, for sure.”
Australia squandered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to Japan on Tuesday, with Lachlan Wright and Christian Zeballos picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament.
The key duo will be suspended for the encounter with Thailand, while Fernando de Moraes is doubtful with a back complaint.
But despite the absentees, Gilligan is sure his troops are closing in on their target.
“We had the goal of winning the first two games and then to make it through to the semi-finals and we’ve got one game to do it,” said Gilligan.
“I know that while it will be difficult, we’ll be ready for it.
“We’ve played Thailand under my coaching three times, we’ve won one and lost two.”
Source : www.the-AFC.com
Published : 14/5/2008
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