FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Moldova's FC Camalot take Scottish Futsal Open

Perth, Scotland. July 2004.
Scottish Open International Futsal Tournament 2004

FC Camelot of Moldova warmed up for UEFA Futsal Champions League duties in the Czech Republic by retaining their Scottish Open trophy.

The holders again went through the event unbeaten, although their League 1 opponents C.S. Rapid and Perth-based team FC Santos both proved tougher opposition than last season. Allied to a stern challenge from FC Argo, also of Moldova, an improved GCLS England side and a spirited performance from Inverness Wanderers the quality of opposition for Camelot improved dramatically this season and their winning margin of only one point over Santos in the Open League event bears witness to this. Indeed, the improvement in the Santos performance in dropping points only to the Champions gives some indication of the raised standards throughout.

 The event threw up some excellent games, with 138 goals in 21 games, an average of almost 7 a game, and some excellent team and individual performances.

Inverness Wanderers, currently playing in the newly formed FPL Scottish Futsal League – Inverness, were given a true baptism of fire with the opening fixture of the event against Camelot, but proved they were not going to be fazed by reputations or inexperience in a solid display.

 The Inverness team eventually finished sixth in the event but this certainly does not do justice to the contribution the team made to the event. Only a last second winner from second placed Santos in their head to head fixture secured three points for the Perth team so the Inverness lads acquitted themselves admirably. Player Coach Scott Mackain had a well-organised unit together for the tournament which can only improve with experience and in Evan MacDonald the Inverness team had the 2004 “Player of the Tournament”.

Perth’s Santos team opened up their challenge missing a number of key players but displayed strength in depth they’ve not previously been able to boast with 2 outstanding performances on the opening night.

CS Rapid were expected to provide the stiffest challenge to Camelot supremacy and were confident of taking the title from their League opponents. An opening match rout of a below strength Perth Brazil looked to be proof that this might be the case, with Hilotil scoring five in the match. This contributed to his overall total of 13, making him the top goalscorer.

 GCLS star Paul Goodhand was again also in prolific form being the only other player to achieve double figures with 10 goals and as expected he was close to winning the “Player of the Tournament” award yet again. GCLS opening fixture was against Camelot and again the Champions netted four, this time without reply. GCLS possibly had one eye on their second fixture of the evening against Santos, looking for revenge of last seasons defeat.

The second days play brought a number of top class games, with the opening fixture providing the first shock with Rapid holding Camelot to a draw, meaning the first ever dropped points for the Moldavian team, and reinforcing the Rapid claims of supremacy.

However, the Rapid challenge faltered with defeat to Argo in their next match. With Santos snatching a last gasp win against Inverness this meant that the Santos versus Rapid game had added pressure.

A tremendous Santos performance resulted in a 4-2 win for the Perth team leaving the Santos team as the only real challengers to the Camelot for the title.

It says much about the improvement in British Futsal that Camelot were required to increase their level of performance against Santos, GCLS and Inverness in each game and with the Moldavians planning their assault on the UEFA Champions League there cannot be long before British sides are competing at this level favourably.

FINAL TABLE

Team                          P         W        D         L          F          A         PTS    GD

Camelot                     6          5          1          0          23        4          16        19

FC Santos Perth        6          5          0          1          22        11        15        11

CS Rapid                   6          3          1          2          34        12        10        22

Argo                          6          3          1          2          20        16        10          4

GCLS                         6          2          0          4          18        23        6          -5

Inverness Wdrs          6          1          1          4          12        31        4          -19

Perth Brazil               6          0          0          6          9          43        0          -34

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