Gerenia vs. North Antarctica (15/01)
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Gerenia vs. North Antarctica (15/01)
*Played 15th January*
Gerenia 0-2 North Antarctica
23' - J. Smalling
80' - R. Robertsen
North Antarctica overcame an under-par Gerenian side to seal a comfortable friendly win two weeks before their opening qualifier. With Gerenia aiming to introduce some fresh blood into their set-up prior to a long qualification campaign, a number of key players were missing for the hosts, including Arien Jangare, Igor Kosko and Zelmar Toscano, while the Napians' line-up was at full strength bar winger Andrew Young's absence.
While the game was, on the whole, an even affair, the difference between the teams boiled-down to the clinical finishing of the visitors. The home team maintained a lot of possession in the first half, but failed to create any meaningful chances thanks to the North Antarctican rearguard's strength. It was the visitors who took the lead halfway through the half, and the strike came against the general run of play thanks to Jonathan Smalling's second ever international goal. Ezeo Maartens' sprayed ball found Ruud Plasil willing to run and the New Livingston man held play up well against Andrew Zitar, before picking a cross into the box. The curled ball skipped behind Ishmael Kazenaghi but was met by Smalling arriving at the edge of the area, and the wide man laced a shot along the turf, beyond Roberto Schettini, and in off the base of the left-hand post. North Antarctica's further chances before the break were sparse and Kazenaghi went close with five to go, but Schettini was equal to his header with a strong palm. The Gerenians had a couple of long-range efforts miss the target before half time as well, being unable to break through the defence for a decisive final delivery, with captain Edward Toledo and Juvenal Paran both putting the ball over the bar from distance.
The second half saw North Antarctica improve their ball retention as more fluid attacks were created by the away side, with Gerenia still passing well without any end product. Schettini, making his international début, was called upon twice before a meaningful Gerenian attack, making stops from another Kazenaghi header and a dipping effort from a Smalling free-kick. Osvaldo Mársico went closest for the hosts with about twenty minutes to go, as he found room behind Johny Dreco to latch-on to Valencia's through-ball, but his stubbed close-range effort was shinned against the foot of the post by Quentin Markhams' reflexes. As the match reached its closing stages, North Antarctica doubled their lead, to give themselves a cushion, through substitute Rudy Robertsen. On for William Maynard just after the hour mark, the forward was left unmarked following a Smalling corner and pounced on the loose ball after it had been headed downward by Kazenaghi; bundling it over the line despite Gebreel Siroge's presence on the post. Gerenia forged a final attack as the ninety approached, but a wild effort from Francesco Valencia showed desperation more than accuracy and bobbled its way wide of the target with no threat to see the match out.
Re: Gerenia vs. North Antarctica (15/01)
Great way to start the year!
Head of Micras Futsal Federation
Commissioner of Napian Virtual Micras Football Association
Head of Alexandrian Futsal Association
Minister of Sport of Elwynn
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Citizenship:
North Antarctica - President Martin K.
Alexandria - Martijn Francois-Westenburg
Elwynn - Razhgan Emiri
New Saerig - Allan Eriksen
Haifa - Tamer Paladino
New Victoria - Micael Partridge
Commissioner of Napian Virtual Micras Football Association
Head of Alexandrian Futsal Association
Minister of Sport of Elwynn
------
Citizenship:
North Antarctica - President Martin K.
Alexandria - Martijn Francois-Westenburg
Elwynn - Razhgan Emiri
New Saerig - Allan Eriksen
Haifa - Tamer Paladino
New Victoria - Micael Partridge