Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuwait City: The AFC Club Futsal Championship started on the right note with the promise of exciting matches with Thai champions GH Bank playing an entertaining 3-3 draw against Lebanon’s All Sports FC in the curtainraiser on Sunday.
In the match played at the Yarmouk Indoor Stadium, both sides saw a player each getting a red card.
In the see-saw battle, All Sports came twice from behind while GH Bank also managed to bounce back in the match after going down 2-1 just after half-time.
Panomkorn Saisorn, Kristada Wongkaeo and Panuwat Janta scored for GH Bank while Weillian Neris Dos Santos, Kaseem Kawsan and Ali El Homsi were on the scoresheet for the Lebanese champions.
“We conceded silly goals and ended up sharing points,” GH Bank coach Rakphol Sainetngam lamented. “But by saying so I am not taking away from the performance our players put on against a very strong and well-organized professional club,” he added.
“These kinds of rollercoaster matches are good for the audience but not for coaches but I am happy with the spirit shown by my boys,” he quipped.
All Sports started the match positively but they miscued some close early chances and had to pay for that as GH Bank opened the account against the run of play in the 7th minute. Saisorn connected a brilliant right-footer volley off the free-kick of Janta to put GH Bank ahead.
“Had we converted our clean chances, we would have won the match” said All Sports coach Dory Zakhour. “It was a very difficult game and we were playing against a good side and coming back twice in the match to walk away with at least a point is not bad at all,” he added.
“We are still there and running, there are two matches left ahead and we have the chance to do well in those matches,” Zakhour said.
Brazilian Do Santos, who had an eventful match, brought All Sports level at 1-1 when he connected a powerful pile driver which GH Bank goalie Sukrit Rojjanametheesap did manage to block but the ball crossed the line.
Do Santos, who was later dismissed for his second bookable offence, created the second goal for Kawsan by brilliantly releasing the ball at the centre for the forward to direct the ball inside GH Bank net as All Sports went 2-1 in the 24th minute.
GH Bank, who also saw Brazilian Carlos Silva getting his marching orders just before half-time, equalised again in the 27th minute through Thai international Wongkaeo’s penalty after Karim Abou Zeid brought down Keattiyot Chalaemkhet inside the penalty area.
The Thai champions made full use of Do Santos’ 37th minute red card after putting them 3-2 up with just a minute left on the clock through Janta. And just when it looked like the Thais were going to walk away with all three points, goalkeeper Rojjanametheesap made his second mistake of the match and El Homsi pounced on the rebound to make it an entertaining 3-3.
Monday’s Matches
Ardus vs All Sports
GH Bank vs Nagoya Oceans
Al Rayyan vs Sanaye Giti Pasand
Thai Son Nam vs Yarmouk