Al Rayyan snatch last-gasp winner to deny Vamos FC

They may be the first futsal club to represent Indonesia alongside Asia’s elite, but Vamos FC showed no signs of inexperience in the opening minutes. Defying expectations, the Southeast Asian side displayed confidence well beyond expectations, as they took the game to the Qataris.

It took Al Rayyan a nervy seven minutes to finally break the deadlock through Brazilian import Costa, who pounced on a defensive error by Tricahyo Ramadhan with a well-placed finish in the bottom right corner.

The Qataris almost doubled their lead in the12th minute, with Costa again coming close when he drove a thunderous left foot which beat goalkeeper Muhamad Nazil Purnama, but was denied by the left post.

Vamos FC nearly equalised five minutes before the break, stringing together neat passes with grace and fluidity, but Dutchman Said Bouzambou failed to keep his composure at the decisive moment following a neat tuck forward by Mochammad Iqbal Rahmattulah.

In the dying seconds of the first half, Al Rayyan came close again, launching a swift counter-attack from an Indonesian corner but Hazem Samy's shot lacked power to direct his effort with any real purpose.  

Al Rayyan came out storming in the second half in search of a second goal and Flavio Barreto Arantes got on the end of a lightning counter, but Purnama produced a strong save to keep his side in the game.