01/06/18
Panjab 8-0 Kabylia - CONIFA World Football Cup 2018, Group D
Panjab kicked off their CONIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 8-0 win against Kabylia at Arbour Park.
Panjab were runners-up in the 2016 tournament and are hoping to go one better this time around whilst Kabylia are making their debut in the competition having only become a member of CONIFA in June 2017.
A goalless draw earlier in the day between Western Armenia and The United Koreans in Japan, meant that both teams had the chance to top the table after matchday one.
Panjab went into the match as firm favourites but it was the underdogs who made the better start, led by their impressive midfielder Yanis Kemache.
Sami Boudia thought he had given Kabylia an early lead only for match referee Dmitri Zhukov to blow the whistle for offside.
Panjab then started to find their feet - Jhai Dhillon having their first real chance on goal, which was tipped behind for a corner by Murad Koulougli.
Rajpal Virk was next to test the Kabylia rear-guard, as the favourites started to get a foot-hold in the contest.
On 25 minutes, they took the lead thanks to a goal from Amarvir Sandhu, who made no mistake when the ball fell at his feet following a goalmouth scramble.
Back came Kabylia however, and Kemache fired a free-kick just wide of goal. Shortly afterwards, Ilyas Hadid forced Panjab keeper Yousuf Butt to make an excellent save.
On the stroke of half-time, Panjab doubled their lead when they sprung the offside trap – Amar Purewal finishing off an excellent move. Despite their lead, Panjab coach Reuben Hazell knew his side could do better.
The second-half belonged totally to Panjab. Hazell adjusted his tactics and they were three-up almost immediately, when Jhai Dhillon was brought down in the penalty area and Gurjit Singh continued his good form from last weekend by slotting home the spot-kick.
Shortly after, Sandhu got his second, heading home after another wonderful move from Panjab. Moments later, striker Purewal got his second of the afternoon, tapping into an empty net after great work down the left from Terlochan Singh.
It was getting ugly for Kabylia who were being totally outclassed and when Hazell made two substitutions, one of them, Kamarjit Singh, got his sides sixth.
Singh then doubled his tally for the afternoon and almost got his hattrick, but was adjudged to have been offside as he put the ball into an empty net.
It was perhaps fitting that Singh, who was inspirational all afternoon, got Panjab’s eighth with virtually the last kick of the game.
Hazell could hardly contain his delight at the finish and was quick to praise his players. “We didn’t know what to expect but as I’ve said before, you can only beat what’s in front of you.
“I wasn’t too happy with the first 20-30 minutes and I told the lads at half-time that they could all do much better. I actually think we were over excited.”
With two games coming up in 72 hours, I asked the coach if he would be rotating his squad, he replied: “It’s difficult. They’re on such a high, when you have players with so much confidence, it can be a difficult balancing act.
“If we win the second game then I may be tempted to rest more for Sunday’s game.”
Panjab now play Western Armenia on Saturday at Arbour Park, kick-off 17:00.
Panjab kicked off their CONIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 8-0 win against Kabylia at Arbour Park.
Panjab were runners-up in the 2016 tournament and are hoping to go one better this time around whilst Kabylia are making their debut in the competition having only become a member of CONIFA in June 2017.
A goalless draw earlier in the day between Western Armenia and The United Koreans in Japan, meant that both teams had the chance to top the table after matchday one.
Panjab went into the match as firm favourites but it was the underdogs who made the better start, led by their impressive midfielder Yanis Kemache.
Sami Boudia thought he had given Kabylia an early lead only for match referee Dmitri Zhukov to blow the whistle for offside.
Panjab then started to find their feet - Jhai Dhillon having their first real chance on goal, which was tipped behind for a corner by Murad Koulougli.
Rajpal Virk was next to test the Kabylia rear-guard, as the favourites started to get a foot-hold in the contest.
On 25 minutes, they took the lead thanks to a goal from Amarvir Sandhu, who made no mistake when the ball fell at his feet following a goalmouth scramble.
Back came Kabylia however, and Kemache fired a free-kick just wide of goal. Shortly afterwards, Ilyas Hadid forced Panjab keeper Yousuf Butt to make an excellent save.
On the stroke of half-time, Panjab doubled their lead when they sprung the offside trap – Amar Purewal finishing off an excellent move. Despite their lead, Panjab coach Reuben Hazell knew his side could do better.
The second-half belonged totally to Panjab. Hazell adjusted his tactics and they were three-up almost immediately, when Jhai Dhillon was brought down in the penalty area and Gurjit Singh continued his good form from last weekend by slotting home the spot-kick.
Shortly after, Sandhu got his second, heading home after another wonderful move from Panjab. Moments later, striker Purewal got his second of the afternoon, tapping into an empty net after great work down the left from Terlochan Singh.
It was getting ugly for Kabylia who were being totally outclassed and when Hazell made two substitutions, one of them, Kamarjit Singh, got his sides sixth.
Singh then doubled his tally for the afternoon and almost got his hattrick, but was adjudged to have been offside as he put the ball into an empty net.
It was perhaps fitting that Singh, who was inspirational all afternoon, got Panjab’s eighth with virtually the last kick of the game.
Hazell could hardly contain his delight at the finish and was quick to praise his players. “We didn’t know what to expect but as I’ve said before, you can only beat what’s in front of you.
“I wasn’t too happy with the first 20-30 minutes and I told the lads at half-time that they could all do much better. I actually think we were over excited.”
With two games coming up in 72 hours, I asked the coach if he would be rotating his squad, he replied: “It’s difficult. They’re on such a high, when you have players with so much confidence, it can be a difficult balancing act.
“If we win the second game then I may be tempted to rest more for Sunday’s game.”
Panjab now play Western Armenia on Saturday at Arbour Park, kick-off 17:00.
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