A hat-trick from Chaim Korman helped Great Britain’s Under-18 futsal team defeated Italy to secure gold in a thrilling match which ended 7-4.
August 4, 2015 17:27EUROPEAN MACCABI GAMES - U18 FUTSAL FINAL
GB 7 ITALY 4
A hat-trick from Chaim Korman helped Great Britain’s Under-18 futsal team defeat Italy to secure gold in a thrilling match which ended 7-4.
The boys in blue opened the scoring with a fine goal from Asher Goldberg who coolly finished in the corner after just two minutes.
Thereafter, GB looked in control and Danny Stapleton came closest to doubling the team’s lead with a shot just wide of the right post. The Italians had a few decent chances to equalise but lacked the killer finish to beat in-form goalkeeper Josh Tray.
Indeed it was Great Britain who struck next with Goldberg getting his second after masterfully dribbling around the keeper to finish into an open net.
James Gordon increased the lead to 3-0 soon after following good build-up play from the back. However, the Italians pulled one back after GB indiscipline sparked two consecutive penalties within one minute. Tray did well to save the first, but could do little about the second which whizzed past him into the bottom right corner on the stroke of half time.
Manager Adam Lustigman’s teamtalk during the break must have been inspirational for the team came out firing in the second half, with Stapleton coming close on three occasions to increasing his team’s lead.
Yet it was Korman who shone in the early minutes by lobbing the goalkeeper from close range to bring the score to 4-1. Thereafter, however, GB’s concentration appeared to slip and the Italians scored two quick breakaway goals after sloppy defensive work, bringing the score to 4-3 with ten minutes to go.
The final 10 were certainly the most exciting. Korman got his second, immediately followed by an Italian goal, and then one from
Nathan, bringing the score to 6-4.
With three minutes to go GB looked comfortable and a last second goal by Korman provided the icing on the cake to an all-round fine performance.
GB boss Adam Lustigman told JC Sport: "The boys have been a pleasure to manage. Two or three of these boys are ready for the Open squad and I want to thank them all for an absolutely phenomenal achievement."
Report by Alex Davis
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