Blue Magic edge Transilvania is AUL futsal classic]#6+#

BLUE MAGIC .................6 

REAL TRANSILVANIA....5

UNDOUBTEDLY,  the game of the season so far with Real Transilvania getting within a goal of the imperious Blue Magic in a full blooded AUL Futsal Cup final - the first of a best of three series to decide the destination of the trophy. 

   This was a game at Gormanston College indoor that had literally everything when it comes to futsal; great skills, super goals, yellow cards, red cards, penalties, missed penalties, thunderous tackles as both sides went full throttle in a game that was always edgy, always competitive, always frenetic, always riveting and an excellent advertisement for the sport. 

  Both coaches might disagree, but, for the neutral, here was a game of the ages and one that went right down to the wire. 

That's not normally a situation Blue Magic find themselves in. With a perfect record throughout the season, perhaps the absence of talisman and captain Ian Byrne might have had something to do with it, but credit Real Transilvania for putting the cup holders to the sternest of tests and although they finished the wrong sides of this 11-goal blockbuster, they will be filled with confidence for next Friday's second instalment with genuine belief they can finally get one over Blue Magic and take it to a decider. 

Byrne was away on international duty with Jim Crawford's Under 21s and stand-in captain Gabriel Yan Micoski was a more than able deputy and the first half seemed to be business as usual with goals from Matheus Coleho (2), Victor Calderon and Kaique Dos Santos providing them with a comfortable lead, but just before the half-time whistle Alex Pop gave Real Transilvania a degree of hope when finishing from close in past Guilherme Cardosa. 

 The Blue Magic netminder Cardosa  had made three superb saves in the course of the opening period - an indication that the orange shirts had a cutting edge to their game and were not to be taken lightly.  Cardosa's lightening reactions were indicative of a keeper at the top of his game and kept sufficient daylight between the two sides on the scoreline. 

Late in the first half Coleho picked up a nasty knee injury off a heavy challenge and was unable to continue and his presence was genuinely missed as his touch and eye for the opposition net was clearly missed as the game progressed. 

Real Transivania, on the restart, got a shot away on goal within seven seconds and that commitment was matched with an aggressive press on the ball and tackles flew and some meaty challenges drew sanctions from both match officials Mark Patchelll  and Sarah Dyas. 

The Real Transilvania manager, assistant manager and physio were to pick up yellows as every tackle was challenged, but it was Blue Magic's Gabriel Saldahna who was to see red for a second yellow and despite being rotated off for a replacement player, match official Dyas didn't buy the ruse, followed him and flashed red. 

With lots of emotion and passion both on and off the pitch, credit Patchell, Dyas and Jack Keating for keeping the lid on a game that  was challenging to control given all that was going on and the nature of what was at stake for both sides.

Reduced to four players for two minutes Blue Magic defended stoutly but just as the clock was run down Real Transilvania struck with Hilton Silva converting his side's second goal.  With the foul count mounting both sides edged closer to conceding a penalty but skipper Gabby Yan Micoski came up with a thunderous finish to edge Blue Magic 5-2 ahead. 

Back came Real Transilvania and  although awarded two penalties  they contrived to miss both - misses they would ultimately rue. Then on a five man Blue Magic press Real Transilvania pilfered possession but missed an open goal when Rayman Daniel  skewed the ball wide.

Daniel however would find the back of the net to make it 5-3 and Andrei Boros also netted to really crank up the pressure in the game. But, the crucial goal for Blue Magic came from Matheus Marins with a powerful angled shot from the right with his shot having too much heat for Felipe in the Real Transilvania goal. 

Muntean Andrei then netted a fifth for Real Transilvania  to leave just a goal between them but the clock beat them with Gabriel Yan Micoski showing tremendous strength holding off two Real Transilvnia players in the corner to run the counter down to the final whistle. 

A remarkable game of futsal that was captivating from start to finish and totally exhilarating with next Friday's re-match sure to bring the same level of  raw emotion and endeavor. 

If' it's half as good as tonight, futsal fans are in for a real treat.! Seriously good entertainment.