Ukraine (9) v (5) Timor-Leste
By Claire Varley
A FAST, even match at Federation Square Stadium saw Ukraine overcome Timor-Leste 9-5.
Despite having yet to win a game, Timor-Leste played like a team of champions, narrowly failing to match Ukraine's superior firepower.
Ukraine's Andriy Nikitin set the pace with a goal deflected off the Timor-Leste keeper. After this early wake up call, Timor-Leste's keeper Donato Ximenes Sequeira took to the rest of the game with quick reflexes and nimble hands.
Timor's Amaro da Silva quickly levelled the score, before strong Ukraine passing set up goals from Nikitin and Oleksandr Ganko.
Timor-Leste followed suit, with great teamwork setting up a second goal for da Silva, who quickly followed this with his third goal of the match. After weaving his way up the court, Maksym Simoroz gave Ukraine a final goal before half time.
While the battle raged on court, another battle was taking place in the stands, with a Ukraine cheer squad facing off Timor-Leste supporters on opposite sides of the pitch. Joining the Ukraine supporters’ chants was the Polish team, seated in the stands awaiting their upcoming match.
Back after half time, the Ukraine team used skilled passing to work around the Timor keeper and give Ganko his second goal of the match.
Timor-Leste followed with a quick goal from Natalino Da Silva Faria. Amaro da Silva took advantage of this, catching the Ukraine keeper off guard with another goal.
With the score level, both teams took frustrated attempts on goal, with both keepers doing a tremendous job deflecting shots, before Ukraine's Ganko managed to slot the ball through the Timorese keeper's legs.
This signalled the end for Timor-Leste, as Simorez responded with two more goals for Ukraine, followed by a final from Igor Flissak to ice the result.
Photos: Photoworx
