Qantas Futsalroos Romp Past Macau
The Qantas Futsalroos have ended the AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers with an emphatic 16-2 win over Macau, to ensure they finished on top of their group.
The Qantas Futsalroos have ended the AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers with an emphatic 16-2 win over Macau, to ensure they finished on top of their group.
After a sluggish start, which saw the score only at 3-1 at the half time break, the Australians put their foot down in the second half to 13 goals in a brilliant display of attacking play.
Leading the way for the Qantas Futsalroos was Adrian Vizzari, who scored five goals, Goran Josifovski and Elia Salloum each got a hat-trick, Lachlan Wright (pictured right) got a double, while Scott Manson, Keenan Duimpies and Andrew Nolan each got a single goal.
Australia got off to its usual fast start, scoring after just four minutes thanks to captain Andrew Nolan. But it was Macau that scored next in the 14th minute, as Australia played sluggishly.
Two late goals in the half by Goran Josifovski and Adrian Vizzari, saw Australia take a 3-1 lead into the break.
Some stern words by the coaching staff at half time, seemed to have the desired effect, right from the whistle, as Australia scored five goals in the first five minutes. Goals continued to flow at regular intervals, with 15-year-old debutant Keenan Duimpies grabbing a goal towards the end of the game.
The win made it three from three in the qualifying series, a result that has turned a few heads within the AFC Futsal fraternity.
“We-ve taken a few by surprise at these qualifiers,” said Australian assistant coach Glenn Lockhart. “For our 1st entry into Asia, it was very, very pleasing.”
“Today in the first half we started slowly, certainly not to our standard we expected of ourselves, but after some stern words at half time, we came out and scored five goals in the first five minutes and played to a level we know we are capable of.
“Our performances have been very encouraging, as it-s a young side, with a few new players and all performed where we wanted them to, but we know there is improvement in them.”
The team will now prepare for the AFC Futsal Championship next month in Uzbekistan, where it will join 15 other teams.
“We will go into camp a week prior to leaving, work more on our set plays and general play as a group,” said Lockhart. “We know we can play at this level in Asia and are really looking forward to the challenge in Uzbekistan.”
AFC Futsal Championship Qualifying tournament
Match Details
Australia 16 (Andrew Nolan 4-, Goran Josifovski 17-/22'/34', Adrian Vizzari 18'/21-/24-/25-/33-, Lachlan Wright 23'/33-, Elia Salloum 27-/29-/40-, Scott Manson 38-, Keenan Duimpies 38-) Macau 2 (14-, 39-) Australia starting five: Peter Spathis (gk), Andrew Nolan (c), Luke Haydon, Adrian Vizzari, Trent Flanigan Substitutes: Scott Manson, Goran Josifovski, Christopher Zeballos, Lachlan Wright, Keenan Duimpies, Elia Salloum Subs not used: Gavin O-Brien (gk), Not in line-up: Miles Downie, Andrew Paine, Pool B - Results & Fixtures Round 1 - 20 April 2006 Qantas Futsalroos 3 - Hong Kong 2 Korea Republic 8 - Macau 1 Round 2 - 21 April 2006 Qantas Futsalroos 5 - Korea Republic 4 Hong Kong 14 - Macau 2 Round 3 - 22 April 2006 Qantas Futsalroos 16 - Macau 2 Korea Republic v Hong Kong - still to be played Group B - Points Table Team P Pts 1. Australia 3 9 (+16) 2. Hong Kong 2 3 (+11) 3. Korea Republic 2 3 (+6) 4. Macau 3 0 (-34)