Tier 2 South team London Genesis upset Hartpury Futsal Club 7-6 in an electrifying League Cup encounter at Gloucester Hartpury University thanks to a long-range winner from goalkeeper Mario Gazolli.
Genesis came from behind to win the game and advance to the quarter finals against a team a full division above them.
Hartpury started the game brilliantly and raced out to a 3-1 lead inside the first 10 minutes thanks to a brace from goalkeeper Dylan Malpas.
The home team dominated most of the first half and continued to create chances with Malpas routinely venturing into the opponent’s half to overload the Genesis defence.
But the London side defended stoutly and two quick goals just before halftime from Kave Da Silva, who twice caught Malpas well outside of his area, saw the sides go into half-time level.
It was a frustrating end to the half for Hartpury, who missed a host of chances and threw the lead away thanks to two lapses in concentration.
The second half began in stark contrast to the first as Genesis piled on the pressure and stormed into a 5-3 lead, with Da Silva completing his hat-trick following a thunderous free-kick from Idair Mendes.
Hartpury quickly pulled one back and continued to throw men forward to find an equaliser, but when the ball was given away with Malpas stranded inside the Genesis half, Da Silva was on hand to score his fourth of the game and restore the Londoners two goal lead.
Hartpury again quickly responded, with Ollie Desborough deftly turning in a cross to make the score 6-5, following an excellent team move.
But with time running out, and Hartpury throwing everyone forward, it was Genesis keeper Gazolli who would find the eventual winner, scoring a brilliant half-volley from almost his own goal line as Malpas once again got caught up field.
Hartpury did manage to pull one back with 40 seconds to go to make things interesting, but Genesis hung on to win the game 7-6 and take the scalp of the team a division above them.
Genesis will advance to the quarter finals where they will take on Division 1’s high scoring Bolton.
Speaking after the game, Hartpury manager Paul McHugh expressed his frustration with the result after such a promising start.
“It’s a really tough one to take.
“We started the game so well and created so many chances that we should’ve been out of sight, so to go in at halftime level was demoralising.
“Then we started the second half terribly and just never really got going.
“I don’t know if it was complacency or what, but that was a game we definitely should’ve been winning.
“It’s particularly frustrating because looking at the teams left in the tournament and we would’ve really fancied ourselves to do something special here.
“But you have to give them credit, Genesis are a much better side then their division would suggest and there is a reason that they are going to win that league at a canter.”
