Futsal Go Wild on Opening Day

Futsal produced a stunning opening day performance to leave Arsenal UK defeated 4-1 at Futsal Arena. Futsal had seen an early Ricky Routhledge header go over but there was little sign of what was to come as a volley by Samir Nasri put the visitors in front on six minutes. Tomas Rosicky would have a header saved as Arsenal looked to double their advantage but it would be the home side who would strike next. A breathtaking breakaway finished with Routhledge placing the ball beyond Fabianski. Still, Arsenal created chances but Nasri shot wide while Alex Song’s header wouldn’t trouble Roberts. Rick Tuttle would respond for the hosts by lobbing over while Routhledge was still proving a threat with a header which went close. Meanwhile, at the other end Nasri was buzzing round and a well-placed header smashed against the bar. The home side would take their first lead of the day just before the break with a thumping long range shot by Tuttle. The second-half saw the home side take more of a stranglehold on proceedings but they would have to escape an Andrey Arshavin free-kick first; Roberts holding comfortably from the midfielder’s effort. Shane Briscoe would see a power shot saved by Fabianski before Futsal did put the game to bed. Donald Scott gave Freddy Kennedy the opportunity to make it 3-1 from the spot and then an excellent free-kick by Rowley Forrester made it 4-1 and game over. The home side would see Routhledge steer a late shot wide and also Tuttle sent-off for dangerous play but they had already done enough to secure three impressive points. Wildy1974 will have been delighted with how his side attacked a strong Arsenal side and will hope this bodes well for the rest of the season. DomBrown promised fans that another defeat like this ‘won’t happen again this season’ and vowed that his side would ‘attack’ from now on.

Gooners matched Futsal’s result with a 4-1 win of their own over a youthful PSV Eindhoven. Gooners dominated the opening half and saw Dennis Bergkamp have an early free-kick saved by Reina. Freddie Ljungberg was the next to try his luck but his shot was also saved by Reina but there was nothing the ‘keeper could do to deny Cesc Fabregas’ flick header on the half-hour. Bergkamp would balloon a free-kick over before the break but Gooners were still satisfied with their opening 45 minutes work. PSV did emerge as an attacking force after the break but Claudio Colluato saw his shot saved by Seaman. Meanwhile, Reina was keeping them in touch at the other end as he denied Kyle Lang a headed goal however Yang Sheng Nanmeng couldn’t take advantage as his header was saved for PSV. PSV’s task was then doubled as Bergkamp steered home a shot following a corner on 64 minutes to make it 2-0. PSV did battle on and pulled a goal back courtesy of an excellent long range strike by Rene Maslovsky. Nevertheless, the hosts would remain the more dominant force with Bergkamp again going close from a set-piece before Fabregas added his second goal of the game from another header. Bergkamp would follow by adding a headed goal of his own to complete a fine opening day victory. FMR was a happy man explaining that his ‘youngsters are on fire’ while the side is on ‘top notch form.’ Kadri will hope for another season of development for his talented youngsters but admitted that they ‘couldn’t cope with (Gooners) crosses and got punished’ on this occasion.

Dream Team performed well despite losing their manager on the eve of the season as they defeated FC Bayern Munchen 3-0 at Allianz Arena. DT started strongly but Warren Wish’s chip went high and not very handsome on two minutes. The home side would see Bob Country shoot wide before Ronaldo Ready curled in the opener at the other end on 36 minutes. This lead would double three minutes later as Garry Gain volleyed in expertly from inside the area. The second-half saw Munchen try to get back into the contest but Adriano Pelizzoli’s header proved no trouble for Delirious while Billy Bob’s lob unfortunately hit the bar. DT rubbed salt into the wounds with a fine breakaway goal from Gain to give them a comfortable 3-0 lead. Bob would waste a free-kick for the hosts before sending another effort on target only to see Delirious block it as time ran out on their hopes of a consolation goal. Dream Team will hope this win will attract a new manager sooner rather than later and the club look in great shape to progress should this happen. Dimentis will know there is better to come from his side and will want them to put points on the board as quickly as possible in a competitive section.

These Charming Men produced a professional performance to dominate The Kings during a 3-0 triumph. A strong first-half saw the hosts create all of the chances. A free-kick on three minutes saw Tord Jakobson hit the ball well-over. The lead would arrive on 40 minutes, though, as Loran Rajabi flicked in an excellent header and Jakobson might have made it two but Fitzsimmons saved well from his free-kick. TCM scored their second from their first opening after the break with Chano Delgado heading home superbly from a Carril cross. Linus Streicher nearly made it 3-0 from a chip but was denied by the excellence of Fitzsimmons while Pat van de Hauwe put a free-kick off-target at the other end. Mauricio Capdevila went close with a half-volley for the hosts while Kevin Sheedy’s diving header went straight at Avellino for The Kings. The last say would belong to the home side as Delgado added his second goal with another super header to complete a comprehensive win. RDCM was a happy man ‘with the exception of the McFadden injury’ as he described it as ‘a good day at the office.’ Hitman10 has his team in excellent form and he will want them to translate that form into points in their next match against Abu Dhabi United.

That will be easier said than done after Abu Dhabi opened with a fine win themselves; a 3-1 success over last season’s Division Three champions wortley afc. A strong first-half showing saw Abu Dhabi overwhelm their visitors from the first minute. Claudio Moura saw Gareth save well from his shot before Ger Wattamaleo did put them in front from a fine header. Moura saw a cheeky back-heel warded off by Gareth and then put a powerful shot off-target as the chances kept coming. Ilppo Visavuori put a flick header off-target before Wattamaleo’s toe-poke was saved by Gareth. The ‘keeper couldn’t prevent the hosts adding to their lead on 37 minutes, though, as Moura finally got his goal from a looping header. The second-half saw a more even contest but Abu Dhabi did waste a penalty as Ritchie Morgan put his effort woefully off-target. Wattamaleo did make it 3-0 with an excellent header but the visitors found a response. Brandon Hiller unluckily hit the woodwork with a fine strike before Maurizio Codognola placed home a consolation on 88 minutes. Jack Wilshere tried to have the last say for the hosts but the excellent Gareth was the equal to his header and the game finished 3-1. Talinmer was disappointed with the ‘serious injury’ to Visavuori but was more pleased with the pools win which earned ‘a nice bit of cash to help out.’ Thegtreatlordbags will be under no illusions as to the step up in class following this opening day reverse but he will retain confidence in his attacking side to come good before too long.

Cathal enjoyed a good first match in charge of the renamed Bully Boys as they defeated Juventus 2-0 on their own turf. The first-half was a tight affair with both sides enjoying chances. Jorn Fruh might have given Juve the lead but his header unfortunately struck wood on seven minutes. BB’s first chance came when Aatu Vuokki put in a diving header on goal but it brushed the outside of a post. Kristoffer Lindfors twice side-footed off-target at the other end before Tero Perotie headed tamely at Fuentes in the Juve goal. The second-half saw Bully Boys dominate after a penalty by Toini Vasama gave them a lead on 49 minutes. A free-kick by Bosse Bong flew into the top corner to make it 2-0 20 minutes later and it might have been more but for Vuokki heading poorly off-target. Berti Behrends did see a goal disallowed for offside while Lindfors was sent-off for the home side because of arguing. There was still time for Bong to head too close to Fuentes but the visitors had done enough to claim three points. Cathal was delighted with the win and claimed that they had ‘played so well out there, (he) felt they would have smacked Totaal off the pitch.’ SuperJuve will recognise the need to put points on the board early after last season's troubles and look for a big effort in their next outing on Tuesday.