Abu Dhabi Doo for Tal

Abu Dhabi United gained a vital three points in their battle against the drop as they put Gooners to the sword in a 5-2 triumph. United were keen to reverse the result of the previous round as they looked to distance themselves from the strugglers. Gooners would have the first chance, though, but Dennis Bergkamp headed wide while Ger Wattamaleo headed over at the other end. Wattamaleo would go one better on 34 minutes with an expert lob which gave Akinfeev no chance. Claudio Moura would then volley home in the area to make it 2-0 and when Wattamaleo rounded the ‘keeper to make it 3-0 on 39 minutes United were fully in control. The second-half saw the action continue with Jamie Hayes lobbing in a fourth for the rampant hosts. Wattamaleo would drive a further shot wide before Moura thought he had added a fifth with an exquisite chip on 56 minutes only to see it chalked off. Gooners would see Sylvain Wiltord go close before Sol Campbell headed a consolation on 80 minutes. Ilppo Visavuori would quickly have the home side four games in front again with a fine header and although Lloyd Lipscombe did shoot home for the Gooners the home side had secured a deserved three points. Tal was obviously delighted with the outcome and that his side had gained ‘3 players in the Xpert 11’ while he gained ‘MOTR’ himself. FMR declared he ‘wanted to lose’ and so will have been happy with the result amidst rumours he is now concentrating on development instead of promotion.

Bully Boys continued on their merry way with an easy win at Futsal. With Futsal still patiently waiting for their new manager the visitors weren’t going to let this opportunity of an easy three points pass them by. Bully Boys would be dominant throughout and Aatu Vuokki saw an early header strike a post. Tero Perotie would then see a shot excellently saved by Roberts before Vuokki put another header just wide. Sakari Reimari would give them the lead with a clinical strike in the area before Sjunne Wenna looped a header off the bar. Trudell Conway would do better with his looping header to make it 2-0 on 27 minutes and put the Boys firmly in control. Reimari would waste a free-kick before the break but Bully Boys went in a contented side. The second-half saw more of the same with Reimari flicking in a header for the third goal on 49 minutes. Conway would then see Roberts punch a chip away before his powerful strike went just over. Futsal did manage an attack on 64 minutes but Graeme Haynes shot over while Toini Vasama fired wide at the other end. Veeti Ristila shot home the fourth on 74 minutes as the Boys looked to improve their goal difference before Wenna shot straight at the ‘keeper on 82 minutes. Reimari would miss the chance of a hat-trick on 89 minutes by wasting a free-kick before Dominic Smythe saw the last chance of the game saved by Roberts. It emerged Cath had told his side to ‘relax and enjoy the party’ while playing manager-less Futsal but he might still have expected more goals after creating so many chances. Futsal finally emerged from their chaos earlier today as Ajtrader100 arrived with the aim of ‘sorting the team.....oh and beating Ith’.

These Charming Men ensured Bully Boys can’t relax at the top as they thumped wortley 5-1 at Irregulars Arena. Having beaten them comfortably in the first fixture, TCM expected no less than a routine win with home advantage. They would have to survive a Paulinho Santos free-kick which struck the bar early on for the visitors but TCM would assert their authority on the contest. Bryan Higginbottom would mishit a shot home for the opener on 11 minutes but the same player would level the game by deflecting in at the other end just two minutes later. Stuart Cooksey would then see a volley saved as the hosts looked to retake the lead and another volley would bring a great save out of Gareth on 29 minutes. Scottie Gillan would put the hosts back in front on the half-hour with a clever toe-poke while Avellino saved well from a Walter Willock shot at the other end to protect the lead. Mauricio Capdevila would see a powerful header strike a post before the break but TCM would still go in with the lead. Tord Jakobson would make it 3-1 quickly after the restart with an excellent diving header before a shot from Loran Rajabi needed tipping over on 64 minutes. TCM would finish strongly as Cooksey headed home the fourth on 86 minutes and although Curt Pryor hit the woodwork for the visitors from a header the home side would have the final say; Jorge Carril also using his head to plant the ball home on 94 minutes. RDCM called it ‘a steady first=half of the season’ before adding that ‘now is the time to take advantage of (their) position and continue to push Bully Boys until they crack.’ Thegtreatlordbags will be starting to worry about his side and three points on Friday become even more essential with a five-point gap from safety.

Dream Team kept up the chase for a top three slot with a 2-1 home victory over Juventus. Having clinched three points in the first game at Juve, confident was high in the DT camp of another three points and so it would prove. The only chance of the first-half came on 18 minutes from a set-piece with Dudley Dream drilling it into the top corner to give the home side the lead. Garry Gain did find the net on 42 minutes but his shot was disallowed and DT settled for a 1-0 half-time lead. Gain would begin with the second-half with a toe-poke which needed saving by Tonetto and they would pay the price as Jacobo Chacros rifled in the equaliser from a free-kick on 54 minutes. DT would remain calm, though, and Gain hit a half-volley narrowly wide. Ronaldo Ready would waste a chance by shooting well-wide but Gain would get his goal as he made good despite a horrid angle on 62 minutes. Chacros would have a free-kick as Juve looked to get back into the contest but Yank made a good save while Tonetto had to be alert at the other end to save from Dream’s shot. DT would see out time on the win which leaves @peace’s side in prime position to move into the top three and capitalise on Gooners’ different ambition. SuperJuve will be pleased that his side remain above the trapdoor but with a new manager expected at Futsal they will need to find their form soon.

Crimea River are also in the hunt for a top three spot after a tough 1-0 win at The Kings. Following a tight 1-1 draw at Crimea on Friday another close match was expected and the sides delivered. The only chance of the first-half fell to the hosts but Kevin Sheedy’s free-kick was high and not very handsome and the sides went in deadlocked. The second-half would also be lacking in chances but it would see the decisive goal. Crimea would get it on 61 minutes as Vivien Tchameni slotted through the legs of Fitzsimmons and into the net. Tchameni thought he had added a second on 67 minutes but his fine lob was ruled out for offside and The Kings had the chance to pinch a point but Trevor Steven’s shot was punched away by Fabianski. Despite the win Ith rued an injury to a ‘third defender in the last four matches’ and said with a smile ‘more free victories over manager-less sides please.’ Hitman will have been disappointed with just a one point haul over the last two games and will want his side to put in a determined showing when they face Bully Boys on Friday.

FC Bayern Munchen were 2-0 winners over PSV Eindhoven in the other contest in Division Two. Having taken a point from the trip to PSV, Bayern were keen to wrap up a victory to keep themselves in the promotion hunt. They would always be the more progressive side and Billy Bob might have had them ahead on 17 minutes but his free-kick struck the bar. The second-half would be one-way traffic and an early Hank Marvin half-volley needed saving by Weston. Bob would finally put them in front with a super free-kick as PSV’s resistance broke. A penalty then saw Bob score his second to put the game beyond the visitors and there was still time for another chance; Billy Ray Bongle heading straight at Weston when well-placed. Still, Dimentis will have been pleased with a solid performance and they will now look to bridge the three-point gap to third over the coming games. Kadri won’t be too disappointed and will try and keep his players confident and in-form over the next few weeks.