GB futsal team suffer last-gasp loss
Maccabi GB’s futsal side suffered the heartbreak of falling to a last-minute defeat as they lost the battle between two sides struggling at the foot of the table.
FA National Futsal League Division One South
FC Siauliai 3 Maccabi GB Futsal 12
Sunday, 23 November, 2014
With both sides towards the foot of the FA National Futsal League South Table this was an important game, with the chance to claw towards mid-table never-more-apparent. Maccabi GB Futsal started the day two points clear of Siauliai who, like their opponents, were looking to change their fortunes of late.
The game got off to a frantic pace with Siauliai setting the tempo, but Maccabi GB stood strong in defence. Players were tracking their runners and the rigid, disciplined outfit was springing attacks when Dickson and Kurrant drove the team forward. Lipman, in the MGB goal, had very few saves to make in the opening minutes of the game, with only Bruno Vitorino of Siauliai causing the away side any major problems.
Siauliai conceded an indirect free-kick just outside of their box, when their goalkeeper received the ball straight back for the second time – illegal in futsal. Kurrant stepped up and smashed his effort off of the defence to ricochet into the top corner to make it 0-1 to his side. The lead did not last long and Siauliai were breaking with pace anytime MGB were not able to add to Kurrant’s tally. Bruno Vitorino made a delightful, disguised drag across the court before toe-poking his effort past the hapless Lipman; 1-1.
MGB, unlike other weeks, did not wilt and started to command the game. Adam and Jamie Bernstein were linking well and Davidson was tirelessly holding the ball up in order to bring others into play. The mood was positive and MGB were pressing for another. The pressure eventually told with Kurrant, from deep, playing a reverse ball into Dickson and feinted into the opposing half. Dickson made a delicious scooped ball which scythed through the opposition defence leaving Kurrant one-v-one. The goalkeeper came off his line quickly, forcing Kurrant wide to make his shot. From Kurrant’s saved shot, the ball fell for Adam Bernstein just inside the penalty area to stroke home and make it 2-1 to MGB Futsal.
Siauliai were clearly against the ropes and MGB’s game plan had worked, if only for 30 seconds as Siauliai drew level just before the break. From a corner the ball was set for a shot, which was diverted into the opposite top corner via a deflection.
Both teams huffed and puffed for the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Sollosi went the closest when he danced around the defenders in the opposition penalty area and dragged his effort just wide of the upright. Gordon-Boyd also went close for MGB soon after when he struck the post from the edge of the box.
With the game edging toward a stalemate, Bruno Vitorino inspired Siauliai to the victory when his effort on the counter struck the bar, before the ball was turned in from the rebound.
A sour taste in the mouth for MGB after being the better side for the majority of the game. These two sides face each other again on 21st December, 4pm KO. For all of the latest news and updates from games please follow us on Twitter: @MGBFutsal
Goalscorers:
Kurrant
A.Bernstein
Squad:
1 Dan Lipman
4 Dan Sugarman
5 Adam Bernstein
7 Jamie Bernstein
8 Jon Kurrant
9 Jonah Gordon-Boyd
10 Jordan Davidson
11 Sam Sollosi
12 Calvin Dickson
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