FA National Futsal Super League

Sunday 25th February 2018 (5:30pm KO)

University of Cambridge Sports Centre

FT: Cambridge United FC Futsal 7 – 6 London City Futsal Club (HT: 2 – 2)

Goals – Angel Martinez (3), Monty Bouttell (3), Paulo Rodrigues

Squad – Lino Cebey (GK), Chay Jakes (GK), Angel Martinez, Alberto Morcillo ©, Monty Bouttell, Paulo Rodrigues, Vitalii Burnus, Nico Papadopoulous, George Harlow, Jonathan Tofts, Greg Birch, Enrico Barnes

Coach – Luis Mendonca

Mascots – Cambridge City FC Girls U11s and George Head

Special Guest – Ronnie Leys (3)

Attendance – 175

Cambridge United FC Futsal get back to winning ways in the FA Futsal National Super League

Cambridge United FC Futsal welcomed current Futsal FA Cup holders London City Futsal Club to the University of Cambridge Sports Centre on Sunday in the FA Futsal National Super League.

The Us had tasted defeat for the first time since the start of November the previous weekend putting an end to their fine 9 match unbeaten run which had seen them move up into 4th place in the FA Futsal National Super League. Sunday’s opponents London City (formerly Baku United), traditionally one of the strongest teams in English futsal, sat one place behind United in 5th. The earlier meeting between the two sides had finished in a 3-3 draw courtesy of a last minute Toby Hardwick strike.

Toby Hardwick was missing this time around through injury joining other absentees Inaki Prado, Pedro Pereira, Justo Lopez, Tim Henery and Chema Cruz but Vitalii Burnus and Nico Papadopoulous returned to the match day squad with Lino Cebey replacing Jose Lima in goal.

Coach Luis Mendonca made sure that Cambridge were fired up after last week’s loss and the Us raced into an early 2 goal lead courtesy of a fine Angel Martinez goal from distance and Monty Bouttell finishing off a good team move.

However, United seemed to relax losing some of their usual intensity and the visitors took full advantage with 2 goals of their own to level things at 2-2 going into the break.

London City came out the stronger at the start of the second half too and were soon 3-2 ahead through another avoidable goal from a United perspective. But this only seemed to spur Cambridge United into action and the Us took control with 3 goals in quick succession. First, after some good work, Pablo Rodrigues found Monty Bouttell who made no mistake from close range for his second of the game to level matters at 3-3. The two then combined again shortly after for Paulo Rodrigues to finish calmly past the London City keeper to make it 4-3. Things got even better for United when some more good play saw Angel Martinez finish at the second attempt to give Cambridge what seemed like an unassailable 5-3 lead.

However, London City summoned all of their vast experience and hit back again to make it 5-4.

Cambridge came again with the goal of the game when Monty Bouttell found space down the wing and his clever turn and cross found Angel Martinez who made no mistake with a sublime finish for his hat trick to make it 6-4. United youngster Monty Bouttell wasn’t to be outdone with a long range effort from his own half past an out of position London City keeper for his hat trick too to make it 7-4.

The game wasn’t over yet though and a frantic last few minutes saw London City ‘go fly’ and pull two more back to make it 7-6 but the noisy and partisan 175 strong home crowd saw Cambridge over the line for an important win.

This victory keeps Cambridge United in 4th place in the FA Futsal National Super League, 1 point behind Birmingham in 3rd and importantly 4 points ahead of 4th place London City who have a game in hand.

Cambridge United FC Futsal now hit the road with all 4 Super League games in March away from home facing trips to York City next Sunday, before facing title challengers Helvecia in London followed by Loughborough and then Manchester.

United will travel to York without leading goal scorer Monty Bouttell who will be away next weekend on international duty with the England U19s in Holland.

The Us will next enjoy home comforts when they face Oxford City in futsal’s own varsity match at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre on Sunday 8th April.

Location

Cambridge University Sports Centre