International Futsal friendly: Sweden 3-3 England

The England Futsal team travelled to Sweden and put in a strong performance to draw 3-3 against a determined Swedish team in the first of two international friendly matches on Sunday evening. 

England looked the brighter of the two teams, and had a number of good chances to seal an impressive victory away from home against a Swedish team that have recorded some excellent results on the international Futsal scene over the past 12 months.

The first half was a cagey and tight affair, with both teams reluctant to commit too many players forward. 

But it was England who found their stride first, with some excellent interplay resulting in Ian Parkes setting up Stuart Cook to score a scintillating goal with some quick feet to slide the ball past the Swedish 'keeper after 12 minutes.

England then extended their lead after good work from Guillermo Wallace to set-free Luke Ballinger, who raced in on goal to tuck the ball away clinically and make it 2-0. 

However, England’s momentum was halted after some lazy defending from a Swedish set-piece on the brink of half time resulted in an own goal from James Webb under pressure from Admir Catovic to provide Sweden with a life-line at the interval.

The second half started in the same way as the first period, with both teams cautiously testing each other’s defences, but Sweden were first to get the breakthrough and made it 2-2 after England wasted a good opportunity to counter-attack after conceding possession sloppily.

That allowed Sweden a chance to launch a counter-attack of their own, with Sargon Abraham sliding the ball past James Dalton in the English goal.

England struck back immediately through a breath-taking passing move involving Agon Rexha, Wallace and ending with Ballinger tucking the ball away at the back post.

Now 3-2 up, the Three Lions began to roar as they moved through the gears to stretch the Swedish again through some excellent passing play. 

But, as in previous games, England failed to take advantage of some good chances to extend their lead and put the game beyond their opponents as Cook, Ballinger and Parkes all had sights of goal without scoring.

And it was the determined Swedes who clawed their way back into the game to make it 3-3, after some sloppy play conceded possession to Sweden and allowed them to launch a three-on-one attack, with Abraham scoring his second for Sweden.

This was an exciting game, and England’s performance exuded much promise and attacking adventure. 

With more clinical finishing England would have seized victory, but Sweden showed enough to suggest that they will push the Lions in the second match on Monday evening.