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Grimsby's Ben Mortlock scores to give England victory! |
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Written by www.thefa.com
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Tuesday, 08 December 2009 |
Historical win for Sturgess'guys: the FA.com
 Courtesy: The FA.com
England beat African Futsal Champions
By Simon Walker
Monday, 07 December, 2009
Libya 1-1 England
Friday 4 December 2009
Libya 1-2 England
Saturday 5 December 2009
International Futsal Friendlies
Tripoli Grand Hall Arena, Libya
The England Futsal team put in two superb performances against the African Futsal champions, Libya, in Tripoli.
England
fought courageously and showed real character to dominate two friendly
internationals against one of the leading Futsal nations in their own
country.
Drawing the first game and winning the second,
England exhibited two of their best –ever displays with the squad
really delivering high-level performances when it really mattered.
Libya
have a fine recent pedigree and are ranked 26th in the world, 70 places
above England. As well as reigning African Futsal champions, Libya won
the Arab Futsal Championships, with their star player Mohammed Omar
selected to play against Brazil in a World All-Stars Team.
England
travelled to Tripoli with the odds stacked against them. Libya defeated
England last year in the only other previous meeting, while England had
only recently won for the first time in their history away from home.
England
began the first game cautiously, but confidence grew quickly and the
England team settled into the game better than their illustrious
opponents. England dictated the early rhythms of the match, with
half-chances falling to Thomas Obasi and Luke Ballinger to establish an
early lead.
But it was the home side who scored first, against
the run of play. A speculative long-distance shot ricocheted into the
path of a Libyan player to slot past Curtis Holmes in the England goal.
Libya began to exert more influence over the game after taking
the lead, showing some of the hallmarks of a true Futsal force. England
weathered the storm and regained their composure and dominated for a
five minute spell before half-time.
Wave after wave of English
attacks crashed against the Libyan goal, with the agile Libyan
goalkeeper having an extraordinary game repelling every English effort.
Colley, Obasi and Vallance all having good chances to level the score
before half-time.
It took a thunderbolt from England’s captain,
Luke Ballinger, to beat the Libyan keeper. Obasi’s effort rebounding
back to Ballinger, who instantly crashed it into the top corner to stun
the Libyan crowd. England continued to press, with Head Coach Pete
Sturgess making effective changes to offer different attacking options.
However, the Libyan goalkeeper would not be beaten again, and at the end a sharp save from Holmes kept the scores level.
Although disappointed not to win, the England team were upbeat with the quality of their performance.
England
started the second game with greater belief of securing a much desired
victory, but were soon on the backfoot after a mistake by Dean
Thornton, playing in goal for the second match, allowed Libya a simple
goal inside two minutes.
England were rattled, and for a
significant spell clung on desperately to prevent conceding a second.
Libya sensed their opportunity and pushed and probed, but the steadying
influence of Nick Colley helped England restore some shape and order to
their play.
The creativity of Rob Ursell and Thomas Obasi
began to come to the fore just before half-time, with a couple of
half-chances giving the Lions some confidence going into the second
half.
The England captain again led by example to restore the
team to parity at the start of the second period. Ballinger capitalised
on a Libyan mistake to go through on goal, with a smart finish to beat
Libya’s talented goalkeeper.
Halfway through the second period Ben Mortlock sent the England squad into raptures after he finished a slick passing move.
Joy
almost turned to despair as while England celebrated their lead, the
Libyans took advantage to shoot at goal from the kick-off. Thornton was
alive to the situation and tipped the ball over the bar. This signalled
the start of a tense last period to the game, with both teams having a
number of chances.
Thornton, Mortlock and Colley all stretched
to prevent Libya equalising as Mohammed Omar began to exert his
influence on the game.
England were also on five accumulated
fouls for the final period, and with a minute to go the referee awarded
a penalty to the home side as a result of a sixth foul. Mohammed Omar
stepped up but hit the post to the disappointment of the home fans.
England
withstood the pressure to see out the game and claim an important
victory for English Futsal to the delight of the squad and coaching
staff.
Under the guidance of Sturgess, the England squad has
been in a period of intense development, and this win helps to show
that the squad and Futsal in England is moving in the right direction.
There
is still much development required, and expectation should be tempered
with the realisation that this is one step on a long path.
But
England Futsal will enjoy this win and the high quality of the
performances in these two matches will provide much-needed confidence
for the future.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 December 2009 )
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