Report and pictures by Ben Stevens - Total Futsal (X: @totalfutsal - Instagram: @total_futsal_ )
Late goals from Uriel Araujo & Jordan Edge nearly earned Manchester Futsal Club a point on their UEFA Futsal Champions League debut against Armenian champions FC Yerevan on Thursday evening, ultimately falling to a 3-2 defeat at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre.
After winning the 2023/24 National Futsal Series and deciding to host the preliminary group stage of the Champions League for the first time ever in England, Manchester attracted a loud and lively crowd to the Velodrome.
Manchester co-owner and head coach, Ilya Ovechkin was pleased with his side’s performance and remains optimistic of two positive results from their final Group D fixtures against Turkish side, Istanbul Sisli and Dutch champions, Tigers Roermond:
“I think the boys are confident. The way we finished the game, we know we’re at that level. It’s our first game in the Champions League so yeah, it’s a learning curve.”
Fans filled a large section of the arena’s seating, as well as the courtside bleachers, with all 3 visiting fanbases well represented.
It was an event and atmosphere that demonstrates futsal’s potential as a spectator sport in England…
…and when captain, Edge, squeezed home a 10 metre penalty to make it 3-2 with two minutes remaining, the home crowd smelt blood.
Had Jake Barnes’ acrobatic volley flown the right side of the post moments later, the roof of the National Cycling Centre would have flown off.
But it was not to be…
Despite dominating the ball for the entirety of the first half and missing some gilt-edged chances, Manchester could not quite match Yerevan’s physicality and know-how.
The Armenians now have three Champions League victories to their name, previously beating London Helvecia (England) and Europa (Gibraltar) in the 2022 preliminary round.
That experience was vital, following a first half which saw them take the lead after five minutes through Melikyan but then pinned back by Manchester’s patience, pace and well-organised press.
After Scott Thompson watched his deft lob fall against the bar, an incredible piece of last ditch defending prevented Barnes from completing a slick Manchester move from a yard out.
England U-19 international Matthew Barber, a constant threat with his pace and change of direction, then saw a close range effort brilliantly saved by the Yerevan keeper.
Barnes stroked a one v one narrowly wide of the post to conclude a first half which could easily have seen Manchester three goals ahead.
“In the Champions League you get few chances, and you’ve got to put them away. Obviously we didn’t do that and suddenly we were chasing the game”, said Ovechkin, speaking at full time.
SECOND HALF
Almost immediately after the restart, Melikyan delivered a sucker punch, quelling much of Manchester’s half-time optimism.
A delightful parallel scoop down the line teed up the 25 year-old Armenian to bury a right-footed volley into the bottom corner for his brace.
After a leggy first half, the visitors now seemed to turn the intensity up a notch both in and out of possession.
Manchester became frustrated at being forced long, regularly relinquishing control straight back to Yerevan, who were beginning to dominate duels and combine more smoothly.
Five minutes later, a direct pass up to the Yerevan pivot was absorbed and worked down the line for 22 year-old Artur Patatyan to bundle Yerevan into a three-goal lead.
With nothing to lose, Manchester stepped up their press and the game became frantic.
Edge dropped an inch-perfect kick-in onto the head of Karimi, who could only direct it onto the post, as Manchester struggled to generate the quality of chances they had in the first half.
Smart fouls and well-timed injury stoppages helped Yerevan stifle any momentum.
But with three minutes on the clock, Jordan Edge shuffled down the left touchline and carved a ball across for Uriel Araujo to finish.
The 23-year-old Spaniard, who scored three Champions League goals for London Helvecia in 2021, was one of Manchester’s brightest performers and becomes the club’s first ever European goalscorer.
A sixth Yerevan foul saw Edge pull it back to 3-2, squeezing his 10-metre penalty under the goalkeeper with a minute to go, before Barnes so nearly gave his home crowd a moment to remember.
With initial nerves now settled and larger crowds expected on Friday, Manchester will be confident of beating Istanbul Sisli in the 7:30pm game, after they lost 4-1 to Tigers Roermond in Group D’s opener.
But with only the group winner qualifying, Ovechkin, Edge and Manchester will need Yerevan to drop points to the Dutch champions at 5:30pm.
Otherwise, their hopes of becoming the first English team to qualify for the UEFA Futsal Champions League Main Round since Baku United in 2015, will be all but over.
MOTM- Jordan Edge- not at his best in the first half, as others provided inspiration around him but as per usual, the Manchester captain delivered under pressure, providing an assist and converting a 10m penalty that nearly got his side back in the game. Excellent defensively and could’ve had another assist had Karimi’s header snuck in.
Yerevan Futsal Club vs Manchester Futsal Club 3-2 (Photo courtesy: Ben Stevens - Total Futsal)
Yerevan Futsal Club vs Manchester Futsal Club 3-2 (Photo courtesy: Ben Stevens - Total Futsal)
Yerevan Futsal Club vs Manchester Futsal Club 3-2 (Photo courtesy: Ben Stevens - Total Futsal)
Yerevan Futsal Club vs Manchester Futsal Club 3-2 (Photo courtesy: Ben Stevens - Total Futsal)
Yerevan Futsal Club vs Manchester Futsal Club 3-2 (Photo courtesy: Ben Stevens - Total Futsal)
Yerevan Futsal Club vs Manchester Futsal Club 3-2 (Photo courtesy: Ben Stevens - Total Futsal)
Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com