Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Australia claimed the final ticket to September’s FIFA Futsal World Cup after a 3-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan at the Universal Stadium saw them finish fifth at the AFC Futsal Championship.
First half goals from Daine Merrin and Grant Lynch sent Australia to the break with a 2-0 lead and after captain Gregory Giovenali grabbed a third in the 31stminute the Futsalroos were in a commanding position.
Emil Kanetov responded four minutes from time but Australia hung on to book their place in a second straight FIFA Futsal World Cup, sparking wild scenes of celebration from their players and staff.
Both nations began with real intent, pushing forward and not sitting and it led to an open, end-to-end, contest.
Kanetov had an early shot that tested Angelo Konstantinou but it was Australia who took a 6th minute lead.
Wade Giovenali made a run down the left flank and finding himself with time to look up, delivered a cross that was met by Merrin whose shot was only half saved by Kirill Ermolov allowing him to poke home at the second attempt and hand Australia a vital lead.
The same combination of Wade Giovenali and Merrin then almost doubled the lead two minutes later, only for Ermolov to tip the latter’s shot wide before Dean Lockhart drove his powerful effort wide as Australia started to step up the intensity.
Daniel Fogarty played a delightful ball that Ermolov only just got to ahead of Wade Giovenali and then, with 25 seconds remaining in the half, the Futsalroos doubled their lead.
Jarrod Basger’s sharp cross from the left was driven first time into the roof of the net by Lynch as Australia went into half-time with a 2-0 lead.
The break seemed to serve Kyrgyzstan well and they came out in an aggressive mood to begin the second period and managed to pin Australia inside their own half for long periods of the first ten minutes but after absorbing that pressure it was the Futsalroos who extended their lead.
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The impressive Fogarty sent in a pass from the left that Gregory Giovenali tucked home at the back post in the 31st minute to give Australia some breathing space.
The central Asian side then turned to the powerplay as they looked to find a way back into the match and Nurzhan Dzhetybaev had two good chances to score, firstly sending a shot from a tight angle wide and then, from a metre out and with only the keeper to beat, blazing another effort over the bar.
In the 36th minute though the Kyrgyzs did peg one back as Kanetov drove home a blistering strike from midway inside the Australian half to give his side a glimmer of hope.
Erkin Tabaldiev had a couple of late chances for Kyrgyzstan but Roberto Maiorana in the Australian goal stood tall to deny both as Australia completed the 3-1 win.
Photo: AFC