Gibraltar invited to Malta for futsal tournament

Gibraltar are one of the teams invited to Malta for their fourth ‘International Futsal Tournament’, held at the Corradino Sports Pavilion in Paola, Malta.

Gibraltar, Malta and Serbia will contest the three day competition as preparation for the upcoming 2016 UEFA Futsal EURO qualifiers.

The chance to face Serbia, a top 20 FIFA Futsal nation will be a big test for Gibraltar, who are looking to at least match the three points they picked up in Nice back in 2013 when they travel to Bulgaria to face the hosts, Greece and Denmark.

Malta have played Gibraltar twice before, and both nations hold a victory over each other in those friendlies.

The fixtures (all kick off 18:30 Maltese time)
Serbia – Gibraltar 30/11/14
Malta – Gibraltar 1/12/14

Gibraltar 1-0 Malta

A 66th minute strike by Kyle Casciaro was enough to give Gibraltar their first ever win as UEFA members, in only their fifth official fixture since becoming the 54th member of European football last May.

 

Gibraltar, off the back of a 1-1 draw away in Estonia, kept up their form from the Tallinn friendly, and when a poor clearance was headed into the box by Joseph Chipolina, Casciaro was on hand to finish off smartly.  The result ensures Allen Bula’s team kept up their more than respectable record in official games, which stands at one win, two draws and two defeats.

 

The win also ensures Gibraltar have yet to lose any of their three games on grass turf, which is something to consider if and when the new stadium is built.  Additionally, the last team to beat Gibraltar outside of the Rock is still the Isle of Wight, in the 2011 Island Games that they hosted.

 

For now, the national team takes a break from action; their next game at the moment is the qualifier vs Poland in September.  However, a friendly could be arranged a few days before that game.  There is also the chance that the ‘Gibraltar XI’ summer friendlies may also be scheduled, giving fringe players and youngsters a chance to impress Bula ahead of an exciting era of Gibraltarian football.

Squads for Estonia and Malta friendlies announced

National manager Allen Bula this morning announced the squads that will be used for Gibraltar’s upcoming friendlies against Estonia (in Tallinn) and Malta (in Faro).

 

1st caps could be won by a number of players across both squads.  In the team for both the games are uncapped players such as Lynx’s Jamie Robba and Tyson Ruiz, Jean-Carlos Garcia and George Cabrera of Lincoln, Manchester 62’s Anthony Bardon and Jake Gosling of English side Gloucester City (on loan from fellow English team Exeter City).  For only the Malta game, there are the call ups of uncapped players Erin Barnett of Lions, Manchester 62’s Scott Ballantine, and Louie Barnfather of non-league Evesham, alongside those listed above.

 

The biggest player not picked in either squad would have to be Lincoln’s Daniel Duarte, with the 34 year old normally a regular in the time.  Bula however may be using these two friendlies to try out different players, and knowing Duarte’s abilities very well, he may be giving the Lincoln midfielder a rest for these games.  Lee Casciaro is still not fully fit for the national team, but he should be fit well in time of the start of the qualifiers.

 

The game vs Estonia is on 26th May a the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, whilst on June 4th the team plays Malta in Faro at the Estadio do Algarve.

 

The Squads:

vs Estonia (20 players chosen):

Goalkeepers: Jordan Perez (Lincoln FC), Jamie Robba (Lynx);

Defenders: Scott Wiseman (Preston North End (England)), Roy Chipolina (Lincoln FC), Ryan Casciaro (Lincoln FC), Jean-Carlos Garcia (Lincoln FC), Joseph Chipolina (Lincoln FC), Jack Sergeant (Manchester 62), Matthew Reoch (Manchester 62), David Artell (Wrexham (Wales));

Midfielders: Liam Walker (Bnei Yehuda (Israel)), Anthony Bardon (Manchester 62), Jeremy Lopez (Manchester 62), Jake Gosling (Exeter City* (England)), Anthony Hernandez (Cadiz CF (Spain)), Tyson Ruiz (Lynx);

Attackers:: Adam Priestley (Farsley AFC (England)), Kyle Casciaro (Lincoln FC), John Paul Duarte (Lincoln FC), George Cabrera (Lincoln FC)

 

vs Malta (23 players chosen):

Goalkeepers: Jordan Perez (Lincoln FC), Jamie Robba (Lynx), Louie Barnfather (Evesham FC (England));

Defenders: Scott Wiseman (Preston North End (England)), Roy Chipolina (Lincoln FC), Ryan Casciaro (Lincoln FC), Jean-Carlos Garcia (Lincoln FC), Joseph Chipolina (Lincoln FC), Jack Sergeant (Manchester 62), Matt Reoch (Manchester 62), David Artell (Wrexham (Wales)), Erin Barnett (Lions Gibraltar);

Midfielders: Liam Walker (Bnei Yehuda (Israel)), Anthony Bardon (Manchester 62), Jeremy Lopez (Manchester 62), Jake Gosling (Exeter City* (England)), Anthony Hernandez (Cadiz CF (Spain)), Tyson Ruiz (Lynx), Scott Ballantine (Manchester 62);

Attackers: Adam Priestley (Farsley AFC (England)), Kyle Casciaro (Lincoln FC), John Paul Duarte (Lincoln FC), George Cabrera (Lincoln FC)

 

*Jake Gosling is currently on loan at Gloucester City, from parent club Exeter City.

Gibraltar to play Malta in June friendly

Gibraltar will play ‘host’ to Malta in a friendly at the Estadio do Algarve on June 4th this year.

 

The news, originally reported in Maltese press yesterday as being on June 6th, was confirmed today by the GFA as being on June 4th.  The game will be ideal preparation for not only the European qualifiers, but also getting used to the grass pitch used at the Faro based ground Gib will use for the home games in Group D.

 

Further friendlies could be announced before the game vs Poland in September, with a date just days before the first qualifier being available

 

 

 

 

Entertaining weekend of futsal on the Rock

Last week, two official friendlies between the futsal teams of Gibraltar and Malta took place in the Tercentenary Sports Hall (TSH).  The two matches saw both teams gain a win each, as a 4-3 win for Gibraltar on the Thursday was followed by a 4-2 victory for Malta two days later.

 

The original plan for these futsal games were for a three team competition to be held.  However, Wales, the planned third team, pulled out at very short notice (Wales went to a four team tournament in Poland, featuring the hosts, Moldova and Norway instead).  Despite the late cancellation, Malta agreed to play two friendlies against Mario Prescott’s team.

 

Malta, who are the lowest ranked of 106 nations in futsal, (Gibraltar will enter the rankings officially after playing 10 games; so far they have played eight) would provide a good test of Gibraltar’s credentials, being a nation of similar ability.  A sizeable crowd filled the one stand in the Tercentenary Sports Hall, and they were treated to two high quality encounters.

 

The first game saw Gibraltar, wearing their white away kit despite technically being at home, beat their Maltese counterparts 4-3 in a thrilling battle.  Despite Malta’s experience showing in the game, Prescott’s team were never losing in what was only their fourth game with the current squad (the team who went to Nice last year were mainly national football players).  A double from Andrew Lopez, alongside goals from Ian Rodriguez and Duane Robba meant that Gibraltar’s fans could go home happy seeing their nation win.  Malta’s goals came from Jovica Milijic, Cedric Sciberras and Dylan Musu, but they couldn’t grab an equaliser to spoil Gib’s night.

 

The Saturday night saw both teams eager to see off the week in style, but it was Malta who were to deservedly take the spoils in a 4-2 battle.  Despite Gibraltar taking the lead through Jamie Walker, goals from Giancarlo Sammut (x2), Jovica Milijic and Rennie Tanti ensured Malta could relax in the final minutes.  Gib did get a goal back through Andrew Lopez (top scorer from both teams over the two games with three goals), but there was not enough time for a comeback of sizeable proportions.

 

Overall, having international futsal on the Rock was almost a novelty, but it is more than welcome.  The crowds seemed to enjoy the event too; hopefully this translates to higher attendances at domestic futsal games, which are ever Saturday and Sunday at the TSH.

Gibraltar to host Malta in futsal match

Gibraltar’s futsal team will face Malta in a friendly match on September 9 at the Tercentenary Sports Hall.

The match, which will provide a good addition to this years National Week celebrations, will see Gibraltar face off against a team who also lost out in the preliminary stage at the futsal qualifiers this summer.

Gibraltar’s futsal coaches have a shortlist of players who will focus purely on futsal, which will mean we won’t get a crossover of national football and futsal players.