Courtesy: UEFA.com


Kairat in sight of league title

Thursday 12 March 2009

Kairat Almaty moved closer to retaining the Kazakhstan league title this week with the four UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finalists now putting their domestic campaigns on hold for the UEFA European Futsal Championship qualifying round from 19-22 March.

Kairat clear
Having successfully defended the Kazakhstan Cup at the start of March, Kairat resumed their league fixtures with two games away to their nearest rivals Aktyubrentgen Aktobe, and extended their lead from six to nine points. The first match was drawn 3-3. Cacau's 12th-minute strike cancelled out after half-time and although Fabrizio and Denis Samohvalov put Kairat 3-1 up, the home side again pulled level. However, the following day Kairat triumphed 6-3. Aleksandr Terentiev struck early and although the home side equalised, Rafael ensured Kairat led 2-1 going into the break and he scored two more after the interval, as did Samohvalov. With six games remaining, Kairat could clinch the title with two wins at home to Aktyubrentgen on 28 and 29 March.

Interviú beaten
Interviú Madrid, who Kairat face in the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals in Ekaterinburg on 24 April, also secured a cup win early this month and top their league, though their lead was cut to five points after the latest set of matches. Interviú had their 18-match unbeaten run ended by Caja Segovia FS. Tobe put Segovia ahead in the first minute but Borja drew the visitors level at the break. Former Interviú stalwart Andreu restored Segovia's lead and although Betão immediately equalised, in the last two minutes a strike from Tobe and two from Lin delighted the 3,000 crowd and allowed FC Barcelona to close the gap by defeating former European champions Playas de Castellón FS 4-0.

Dinamo double
UEFA Futsal Cup holders and finals hosts MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg had a blank week in the Russian Super League but domestic rivals and last-four hosts MFK Dinamo Moskva did play. They beat PFC CSKA Moskva twice to move ahead of MFK Tyumen into second place, and to within seven points of Ekaterinburg. In the first game Cirilo, Joan and Sergei Ivanov put Dinamo three up and although CSKA pulled two back, Joan added another prior to the visitors pulling the score back to 4-3.

Improvement needed
A day later Ivanov scored twice and Pula, Cirilo, Edu and Aleksandr Rakhimov all found the target in a 6-3 success. Dinamo coach Sérgio Sapo said: "I think that this game was better than the previous one. Although we were still under pressure, our opponents made mistakes. We have three weeks until the next game so we will try to iron out the problems. Our training will be hampered, however, as we a number of players with the Russia team."






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com