Tottenham Hotspur showed their determination to reach the second round of the Frenz U18 International Cup 2015 from Group D with a 5-0 thrashing of Frenz United Malaysia (FUM) at the Shah Alam Stadium.
FUM’s failure to clear the ball in the penalty box allowed Spurs winger Azzaoui Ismail to get past two defenders and relayed the ball to Harrison Shayon Adam, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Shervin Teimouri Touraj in the eighth minute.
The goal deficit did not hamper FUM, who kept on attacking, although it was Spurs who were more clinical with their approach which centres on Azzaoui and Loft Ryan George Henson’s speed.
FUM’s Dicky Rhomadhona Firmansyah’s foul on Azzaoui in the 33rd minute became FUM’s nightmare after goalkeeper Shervin misjudged the free kick, giving Adam a simple task of scoring his and Spurs second goal. And two minutes before the halftime, Henson made it 3-0 after pouncing on Owens Charles’ low free kick into the six-yard box from the left flank.
Tottenham was at its best once again after the interval, adding two more goals from Azzaoui (66th) and substitute Daly Armani to bury the hosts in front of 300 local fans.
AIFF India’s solid defensive strategy also failed to hold Estudiantes FC back as the Argentineans secured a 3-0 win in their opening Group D match at the UiTM Stadium in Shah Alam.
AIFF’s defensive 4-4-2 formation caught Estudiantes off guard, but the Argentineans managed to score first through a corner kick in the 26th minute, which found defender Marinelli Rodrigo Alberto in place to drive the ball into the net.
Estudiantes’ confidence grew, resulting in a second goal obtained after Apaolaza Juan Franciso picked out Lazzarini Emiliano in the box, who redirected the ball into the top right corner on 42nd minute.
AIFF conceded their third goal in the 74th minute after Miranda Ezequiel Fernando, who was unmarked in the six-yard box, tapped in a pass from Apaolaza to make it 3-0 to Estudiantes.
Estudiantes were forced to play with 10 men in the last five minutes after using all their substitutions before Miranda suffered from cramps, but it was enough for them to secure the win.
“I am happy we won in our first match in the FIC. The conditions and time difference made it a little difficult, but the boys did well. We want to focus on our next match against Frenz United Malaysia and then only we will think of Tottenham Hotspurs. We do not want to look too far,” said Estudiantes coach, Desio Hermes Aldo.
Over in Palembang, Brazilian outfit SC Internacional FC and Spanish club Valencia CF were looking to an impressive start in Group B but it was Internacional who walked away with a composed and determined performance following a 3-1 victory at the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Jakabaring.
J-League side Kashima Antlers was held to a 1-1 draw by Thailand’s Chonburi FC after taking a ninth minute lead through Yuki Shikama before Chonburi struck back with a late Autthagowit Jantod penalty.
Striker Ronald Santanna Rodrigues gave Internacional the lead in the 35th minute but the Brazilians could have gone 2-0 up on the stroke of interval from a penalty but Joao Pedro Viera shot straight into Valencia goalkeeper Christian Rivero Sabater.
Goals from Allan Rodrigues de Souza off a perfectly executed free kick in the 55th minute and Bruno de Souza (65th), however, kept Internacional in a comfortable opposition. But after Internacional were reduced to 10 men when defender Mauricio Tomazi was shown a red card for a clash with an opponent in the 75th minute, Valencia struck back.
Substitute Marco Anatonio Farisito weaved his way into the box from the left flank and let fly a powerful shot into the top right of the net, beating a bemused goalkeeper Andre Felipe Grandi.
Valencia head coach, Miguel Grau Piles, however, blames the match referee’s poor handling of the game and the uneven ground condition at the stadium for their defeat.
“The referee was very soft in the first half as most of my players were getting knocks and he did not show any yellow card. It was only in the second half that he began to act more seriously,” said Piles. “I believe if the ground was much better we could have played better, even if we had lost was immaterial. Today, we just could not play our normal game,” added Piles.
Internacional head coach, Ricardo Cobalchini, in dismissing Valencia claims that the Brazilians played a very physical game today, said: ““We are thrilled with this win over Valencia and look towards playing Kashima Antlers on Tuesday. That is our brand of football and we get very serious once on the field.”
Match Schedule – Monday (5 Jan, 2015):
In Palembang – Group A: Frenz United Indonesia v Feyenoord FC (4.0pm); Liverpool FC v Guangzhou Evergrande; 8.0pm (both matches to be played at Stadium Gelora Sriwijaya).
In Kuala Lumpur – Group C: PVF Vietnam v Gamba Osaka (4.30pm); Besiktas J.K. v Porto FC; 8.45pm (both matches to be played at Maybank Stadium, Bangi).
