Futsal Club Cardiff will represent Wales in the UEFA Champions League after beating the Cefn Druids 8-7 over two legs.
Alex McDowell gave Cardiff the lead int he ninth minute after some heavy Cefn Druids pressure. Matthew Williams scored after 15 minutes to put Druids back ahead overall. Nicko Barber restored Futsal Club Cardiff’s lead after 32 minutes but Connor Rodgers levelled the game a minute later. Jonathan Nelson scored late on to take the game to extra time. Cardiff’s Dean Maynard got the vital goal to put Cardiff ahead in the tie at the end of the first period of extra time.
Futsal Club Cardiff claim the FAW Futsal title and will head into the UEFA Futsal Champions League.
Cefn Druids started well and pushed Cardiff back in the early parts of the first half. Connor Rodgers seeing a shot saved by Michael Baker and Jacob Wise shooting wide.
Cardiff were quick on the counter attack with Dean Maynard going past Rodgers and shooting into the side netting.
Connor Rodgers went the closest to opening the scoring when his powerful shot came flying back off the post.
Cardiff started coming into the game more and Rhys Williams forced a good save from Stewart Evans.
Midway into the half and Cardiff took the lead. Alex McDowell sending a powerful shot past Evans.
Druids hit the woodwork again as Evans came out of goal to put a cross into Jacob Wise. Wise heading past Baker but the ball came back off the bar.
Druids did soon level the game from a well worked corner. Working the ball around the court to Matthew Williams who was able to find the net.
Cefn Druids had their keeper Evans to thank for going into the break level. Evans with a fine save as McDowell’s shot looked to heading into the corner.
Half Time: Futsal Club Cardiff 1-1 Cefn Druids
Lee Jones came on in goal for Cardiff at half time and he was soon called into action. Dominic Doherty hitting a low shot at goal that needed a save from Jones.
The game was going back and fourth as both teams looked to score. Evans was needed to save from Joseph Dyer’s shot, and than saved again from close range.
Cardiff started to push Druids back the half wore on in search of the goal to level the tie. Rhys Williams with a chip at goal that needed Evans to save.
Cardiff continued their push with Gary Bell hitting a shot on the volley. Evans again sharpe and making the save.
With 33 minutes on the clock Cardiff worked the ball into Javier Rodriguez. In front of goal Rodriguez hit a powerful shot past Evans.
Cefn Druids response was swift as the got the ball got on the right to Rodgers, who let loose a pile driver of a shot into the top corner.
Cardiff need another goal and Dean Maynard went close twice in quick succession. His first from close range was saved by Evans, then his follow up shot was blocked.
Cardiff’s pressure told right at the end as they worked the ball into the centre and found Jonathan Nelson. He hit a shot past Evans to give his side the lead, and level on aggregate.
Full Time: Futsal Club Cardiff 3-2 Cefn Druids
Cardiff started extra time the better and Nelson saw one shot blocked and another go wide.
Maynard shot wide and Evans saved from Dyer as Cardiff went in search of a winner. Dyer seeing another effort saved and Evans saving from Bell.
Nicko Barber played a great long pass into Maynard at the far post. Maynard coolly tapped the ball in to put Cardiff ahead.
For the second period of extra time Cefn Druid’s Connor Rodgers took the role of flying keeper, giving Druids an extra outfield player when they attacked. Evans swapping for Rodgers when out of possession.
With the extra player Druids dominated the second period. Rodgers shooting wide and Rhys Williams effort saved by Lee Jones.
Rodgers saw another effort saved and another shot blocked as Cardiff looked to hold Druids out.
Rhys Williams shot over and Jones made a vital save from Bradley Dobson’s effort.
Despite their effort Druids couldn’t find a way though and Futsal Club Cardiff were crowned champions.
Full Time After Extra Time: Futsal Club Cardiff 4-2 Cefn Druids
Futsal Club Cardiff: Michael Baker (G), Joseph Dyer, Gary Bell, Gareth Emmanuel, Dean Maynard, Jonathan Nelson, Manuel Gomez Dominguez, Alex McDowell, Issuf Sisse, Javier Rodriguez, Nicko Barber, Rhys Williams (C), Lee Jones (G),
Goals: Alex McDowell 9, Javier Rodriguez 32, Jonathan Nelson 38, Dean Maynard 44.
Yellow Cards: Jonathan Nelson 38.
Cefn Druids: Stewart Evans (G), Jacob Wise, Matthew Best, Connor Rodgers (C), Dominic Doherty, Chris Williams (G), Louis Pritchard, Matthew Williams, Jack Massey, Taylor Thain, Bradley Dobson.
Goals: Matthew Williams 15, Connor Rodgers 33.
Yellow Cards: Dominic Doherty 11, Bradley Dobson 35, Taylor Thain 44.
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