The tournament for Phoenix finished as unexpectedly as it started. Having showed excellent game against two strongest, in our view, futsal clubs participating in the tournament: Chorne More and Energiia, Phoenix got swept by the least futsal-y team of the four semi-finalists. All because of the same old malady the violets are given to: the fear of teams surpassing them in age and height.

Olympic took full advantage of AFU’s new rule to apply with as many players of the higher age group as the club wished and hit the spot, staffing the team mostly with the players born in 2005. That’s exactly what happened to decide the outcome of today’s game. Phoenix, stuck in the physical struggle, failed to show a big deal of the game it showed in the matches of the group round.

Even though the first half did not look quite alarming, the number of errors and the fussiness in how the team acted in the field were disquieting. Keeping robust guard of the goal Phoenix, in fact, had no real chances to score. All of three Phoenix pivots were not doing any better, beaten by the opposition in most of individual encounters. Shots for goal were either inaccurate or weak. The combination play would fall apart because of elementary errors which at times were unforced.

In any case this time Phoenix managed as many as 46 goal attempts - even more than in its yesterday’s game with Shturm.

Olympic made 18 goal attempts and 9 shots on target, making most of the moments they had, scoring three times in the second half. The second goal we conceded made the coaches switch to the 5-a-side style. That made no big difference, though, Phoenix spending the remaining 12 minutes of the second half without scoring.

Phoenix is no longer eligible for the main trophy of the tournament. The guys will still try to make a decent farewell tomorrow and fight for the bronze against Illichovets of Chernomorsk, the overdog. The game is scheduled for 10:20.