After dropping the first two matches of the series on Friday and Saturday, early goals again proved to be a problem for the Kiwis as Jonathan Barrientos scored in the third minute to take the Futsalroos out to an early lead.
Heads dropped again within a minute as Wade Giovenali slid in at the back post for an easy tap in to double the lead within five minutes.
A spell of possession and solid defence saw the Futsal Whites recover from the bad start, however the Futsalroos set alarm bells ringing when they scored twice in two minutes through Chris Polkinghorne and Jarrod Basger.
The crowd came to life on the quarter-hour mark after the Futsal Whites started to come back into the game and they were rewarded with a goal when Jan Fischer latched onto a squared ball to tap home from a yard.
This sparked the Kiwis to life as they created a number of opportunities to score again before the halftime break but could not capitalise, going in facing a 4-1 deficit.
After the break, the Futsal Whites looked a stronger defensive unit before the constant pressure from the Australians took its toll as they conceded 32nd and 35th minute goals.
Callum Smith grabbed a goal 60 seconds from time to finish off the scoring as he was set-up brilliantly by Giovenali, who looked to be one of the best players on the pitch in game 3.
Futsal Whites coach Scott Gilligan said the team paid for a bad period in the game and never really recovered.
“We had a bad 10 minutes and it showed. There was no belief during that period and they capitalised on it. Once we actually played possession, we created a chance and got a goal from it.”
Gilligan said a few “stern words” at half-time were exchanged and to the Futsal Whites’ credit, they lifted their game and started to hold possession.
Despite the results throughout the series, Gilligan said it’s important that his players understand they are in a learning phase and it will take a little time to develop.
“We learned some hard lessons over the three games but you look at where they are in the world and how they play and learn from them.
“These guys have been playing futsal, and only futsal, since they were young and have developed over a long period. We are in the learning stage and the results won’t come overnight but they will come in time,” he said.
“The performance in the first game showed what we can do.”
In the opening match of the series the Futsal Whites fell 5-3 to their Australian counterparts in front of a decent crowd, including several Wellington Phoenix players on hand to watch their former teammate Leo Bertos make his debut.
Already two goals behind at half-time, the 56-cap All White was picked out almost immediately after thaking the court, chipping Angelo Konstantinou with his first touch of the half producing his first goal, and the Futsal Whites first against the Aussies in four Trans-Tasman games.
The Futsalroos restored their two goal lead shortly after thanks to Jarrod Basger however Kareem Osman replied almost immediately. Basger followed that with another to take the visitors to 5-2 but Osman once again rose to the challenge and leaving Australia with a tense final minute to hold on for the win.
“Getting the monkey off the back and scoring three goals against the Australians is a big thing for us, especially not scoring one in three games last year. It’s a big boost,” Gilligan said.
Match two once again saw the Futsalroos running away with an early lead when Jordan Mundell scored in the first minute. It seemed to inspire the home side as they forced a number of saves from the Australian goalkeeper, and while they couldn’t find the back of the net, neither could the Aussies, heading into the break behind by just one goal.
However the Futsalroos weren’t going to make it easy and an impressive second half showing saw them score two early in the half, before three goals flew in during the final minute to make it 6-0.
Following the second encounter Gilligan said the Australians speed of ball movement was impressive and ultimately the difference between the two sides.
“In Oceania we have a lot of speed from the players but not the speed of ball movement that they have. Their guys move it around at pace and their runs are smart as they’re always cycling into space. Tonight they showed that in the second half.”
Trans-Tasman Cup 2014
Futsal Whites vs. Futsalroos
Match 1: 3-5 (NZL: Leo Bertos 25’, Kareem Osman 32’, 39’; AUS: Wade Giovenali 14’, 16’, Tobias Seto 32’, Jarrod Basger 35’, Own Goal)
Match 2: 0-6 (AUS: Jordan Mundell 1’, 35’, 38’, Jarrod Basger 22’, Wade Giovenali 24’, Chris Polkinghorne 40’)
Match 3: 1-7 (NZL: Jan Fischer 12’; AUS: Jonathan Barrientos 3’, 31’, Wade Giovenali 4’, Chris Polkinghorne 10’, Jarrod Basger 12’, Adam Cooper 34’, Callum Smith 38’)
Story courtesy of www.nzfootball.co.nz

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