Maccabi GB Futsal's FA National League Division One South campaign got off to a disastrous start as they were beaten 13-4 by F.C Baltic at SportHouse.
In the season opener, Maccabi GB faced a strong outfit in F.C Baltic, a team who have qualified for the Super League for the last two seasons, the only team to take points off professional outfit Baku. This was a great test for the promoted Maccabi GB side and a tough day was in store.
The opening five minutes of the game quickly showed the underdogs the difference between Division Two and Division One. Fantastic pressure coupled with clinical finishing had Baltic 2-0 ahead after six minutes.
Maccabi showed grit and class to claw their way back. A foul, 15m out from the Baltic goal had Jon Kurrant on the ball. He dummied the shot, passed out wide to Sam Sollosi, checking to receive the ball back. Kurrant then shot toward goal and Benji Weinberger toed the ball into the corner.
Baltic regained their two-goal cushion a minute later, naivety in defence allowed the middle to be open. Baltic took full advantage and do not need second chances, blasting the ball into the corner to make it 3-1.
The second part of the first half was then all Maccabi GB, visibly rocking their visitors. A ball was arrowed into Scott Shulton as pivot, pinning his man, he flicked the ball round the corner to the onrushing Bernstein. Bernstein flew with the ball down the right channel, crashing the ball to the back-post for Alex Olcot to score a great goal.
Maccabi GB Futsal got it back to level-pegging two minutes later. Baltic had acquired five fouls against them. The sixth came when Shulton, who tracked back magnificently, won the ball back and was hauled over. Bernstein took the resultant 10m penalty and slotted the ball coolly between the keepers’ legs and make it 3-3.
Maccabi GB had all the momentum, but naivety struck again, with 10 seconds left on the clock before half-time, Baltic countered caressing the ball into Lipman’s left hand corner, taking a 4-3 lead into half time.
The second half started for Maccabi GB the way the first finished. In the ascendency, Shulton sent two efforts crashing against the post, agonisingly rolling across the goal before being cleared.
Then in a crazy three minute spell, Baltic swung the momentum, scoring four in quick succession, bamboozling the Maccabi GB defence, 8-3.
Vladamir for Baltic was sent off for a poor substitution through the gates and were down to four men. Maccabi GB took full advantage and scored when Kurrant slipped the ball towards Sammy Horne, who deflected into the goal.
Baltic were relentless and clinical, a lesson Maccabi GB will have to learn from as two goals were scored on the counter before Kurrant received a second bookable offence for handball.
Baltic closed out the game 13-4, a second-half performance that did not match the work-rate or intensity from Maccabi GB that they set in the first half.
MOM: Scott Shulton - his tireless running on and off the ball was a constant threat to F.C Baltic and was very unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.
STARTING V:
Dan Lipman
Alex Olcot
Scott Shulton (c)
Jamie Bernstein
Jon Kurrant
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SUBS:
Sammy Horne
Benji Weinberger
Sam Sollosi
Jonah Gordon-Boyd
Jordan Davidson
Aviel Schwarz
Goalscorers for MGB:
Weinberger
Olcot
Bernstein
Kurrant