FA National Futsal Super League

Sunday 26th November 2017

FT: Cambridge United FC Futsal 4 – 3 Manchester Futsal (HT: 3 – 1)
Cambridge University Sports Centre

Goals – Justo Lopez (2), Angel Martinez, Monty Bouttell

Squad – Lino Ceby (GK), Chay Jakes (GK), Angel Martinez, Justo Lopez, Vitalii Burnus, Chema Cruz, Inakix Prado, Monty Bouttell, Toby Hardwick ©, Tim Hennery, George Harlow, Greg Birch

Coach – Luis Mendonca

Mascot – Michal (Misiu) Tomczak

Guests, Flag Bearers and Mascots – Little Paxton U8s

A second successive home win for Cambridge United FC Futsal over Manchester Futsal Club in the new FA Futsal National Super League season.

Sunday saw CUFC Futsal host Manchester Futsal Club at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre. This third home game in succession gave Cambridge the opportunity to build on the previous weekend’s good display and win against Loughborough.

Cambridge and Manchester know each other well and have been traditionally well matched. Last season, Manchester finished as runners up in Super League North, two places above United and have been going well this season so were the favourites. Manchester Futsal Club is an excellent set-up, traditionally always very strong with a number of English and Dutch senior international players amongst their ranks.

Cambridge United FC Futsal have enjoyed a rapid rise to the top tier of futsal in England. Just 2 seasons ago, the Us were crowned champions of Divison 2 Midlands and secured promotion to Super League North by winning the Midlands v North play offs whilst also reaching the Futsal FA Cup Semi Finals in Manchester. Last season saw United finish 4th in Super League North which secured their place in the inaugural, single, larger FA National Futsal League this season.

With Alberto Morcillo side-lined after his red card last week against Loughborough, young U Toby Hardwick wore the captain’s armband again this week, Justo Lopez returned from suspension and Tim Hennery came back into the match day squad.

Buoyed by their win the week before, United started confidently and had several good chances early in the first half which weren’t taken. Cambridge were then somewhat unfortunate to find themselves a goal behind mid way through the first half when, for the second week in succession, a Manchester cross took a cruel deflection off a Cambridge player past the stranded Us keeper Lino Cebey.

Cambridge were not phased though and kept playing patiently, dominating possession, defending with great discipline and were soon rewarded when a well worked set piece saw Angel Martinez tee up Justo Lopez who scored with powerful strike. All square at 1-1.

Shortly after it was advantage United as Angel Martinez turned from provider to scorer as some good pressing saw Cambridge win back possession on the half way line and Martinez finished a fine solo effort. 2-1 to United.

Coach Luis Mendonca will have been pleased with the way his team maintained their intensity and it was soon 3-1 to Cambridge when another well rehearsed set piece between Angel Martinez and Justo Lopez found Monty Bouttell who scored from close range with a cute finish over the Manchester keeper.

The game ebbed and flowed for the remainder of the first half, with the Us looking to protect their advantage, but Cambridge were almost undone by their lack of discipline again. Having reached the allowed 5 fouls in a half, United conceded one more fouls each leading to a 10m penalty for the visitors but Manchester failed to capitalise, with Cambridge keeper Lino Cebey proving to be the hero again with another fine penalty save. 3-1 to United at half time.

Manchester started the second half really strongly, desperate to get back into the game, dominating possession but United continued to frustrate them until half way through the second half when two well worked goals in quick succession saw Manchester back all square at 3-3.

But Cambridge weren’t to be denied and it was that man Justo Lopez again with his second goal of the game with a delicate finish past the onrushing Manchester keeper after being put through by George Harlow. 4-3 to the Us.

United defended well for the final 7 minutes and a frantic end saw the match finish 4-3 to a deserving Cambridge United, much to the delight of the crowd, and a second successive home win for the Us.

Cambridge United FC Futsal will be at home again this Sunday 3rd December when they face London based Genesis Futsal Club at the Cambridge University Sports Centre in a 5:30pm kick off. The Us will be striving for their third win on the bounce. Cambridge and Genesis have not met in the league before but there is history between the two sides as Genesis have knocked Cambridge out of the FA Futsal Cup in both of the last two seasons, once disappointingly at the semi-final stage.

Cambridge United FC Futsal would like to thank match day mascot Michal (Misiu) Tomczak and special guests Little Paxton U8s players and parents for their tremendous support.

Location

Cambridge University Sports Centre