Qantas Futsalroos on verge of major win
The Qantas Futsalroos are on the verge of winning its first major trophy since Australia became part of the AFC, after reaching the final of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championships.
The Qantas Futsalroos are on the verge of winning its first major trophy since Australia became part of the AFC, after reaching the final of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championships.
A 4-1 win over Vietnam propelled the Qantas Futsalroos into the final, where they will meet host and defending champions Thailand tomorrow at the Hua Mak Indoor Stadium.
Australia though will start as the underdogs in the final after Thailand whipped Malaysia 13-0 in the other semi final.
The Qantas Futsalroos stepped up the assault on the Vietnam goals with twenty eight shots in the second half resulting in four goals.
The first to break the deadlock came from a set play after being awarded a corner. Andrew Paine playing the ball to the edge of the D, while Tuan Cao and Miles Downie exchanged positions with Tuan Cao placing the ball into the back of the net with ease.
Vietnam though struck back five minutes later against the run of play, which was the only blight on the Aussies game.
The goal lead was restored and was a true indication of the way the Aussies played, with Simon Keith showing great determination to pressure and challenge the Vietnamese defense in their own D, with the ball deflecting off Keith into the goal.
Australia-s defense was superb all night and it was highlighted again in their third goal, with Tuan Cao intercepting a pass from Vietnam-s pivot before hitting a well placed shot into the right corner of the goal from 12 metres out with the Vietnamese keeper off his line.
Towards the end of the game the Vietnamese defense started to implement a full court press, but the Qantas Futsalroos held possession expertly with a range of precision passing and flowing movements. The Aussies final goal was a result of their fluent movement with Andrew Nolan playing a precise chip to Scott Dingwall who headed the ball to Simon Keith. Keith then hit the ball across the goal for Scott Dingwall to slide into the back of the net.
Australian coach Scott Gilligan told the official AFF website www.aseanfootball.org after the game, "We probably gave Vietnam a lot more respect than we should have in the first half.
“We went forward and pressured them more after the break and since we got the pace, we did a lot better. For the final match, I believe that Thailand will be hard to beat.
“They are in-form at the moment and they are playing really well.”
Match Details
Australia 4 (Tuan Cao 25'/36', Simon Keith 32', Scott Dingwall 38') Vietnam 1
Australian Line-up: Gavin O-Brien (gk), Luke Haydon, Adrian Vizzari, Scott Manson, Lachlan Wright Subs Used: Peter Spathis (gk), Simon Keith, Andrew Paine, Miles Downie, Andrew Nolan (c), Scott Dingwall, Tuan Cao