Courtesy: UEFA.com


Azerbaijan crash opening-night party

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Match report by Jim Wirth from Papp László Arena

A stunning display of football acrobatics starring pianist Adam György and freestyle maestro Séan kicked off the UEFA European Futsal Championship, but it was finals debutants Azerbaijan who dazzled on the pitch, defeating Hungary 3-1 in their opening Group A game.

Neat touch
The hosts were hit with a sucker punch within a minute, Felipe's kick-in finding the unmarked Biro Jade, who drove home from distance, but Hungary soon struck back, Tamás Lódi's neat touch diverting Zsolt Gyurcsányi's fiercely-struck free-kick past Andrey Tveryankin. Zoltán Balász was to be the busier goalkeeper thereafter though, with Biro Jade and the similarly hirsute Thiago pulling Mihály Kozma's side all over the pitch.

Final score
Balász made a fine stop to deny Thiago on eight minutes, but had no chance four minutes later, man-mountain Serjão lifting the ball into an empty net after the goalkeeper had saved another long-range Biro Jade missile. Lódi smashed the ball into the side netting shortly afterwards, prompting mistaken celebrations from the lively home crowd, but Azerbaijan were to score again before the break, Alves spinning in from the touchline to coolly beat Balász.

Crown jewels
Azerbaijan took their crown jewels off display for the first part of the second half, with Thiago and Biro Jade used more sparingly. Their threat only diminished slightly, Felipe heading against the bar following a free-kick at one end before Zoltán Dróth rattled Tveryankin's goal frame with a shot at the other. With the deadly duo restored, Balász did brilliantly to lift Gyurcsányi's misguided defensive touch over the bar.

Flying goalkeeper
With four minutes to go, Kozma sent on Janós Trencsényi as a flying goalkeeper for the first time, with his first meaningful contribution being a useful save to deny Thiago, with János Madarász and Lódi then both miscuing as a teasing ball from the left exposed the hitherto rock-solid Azerbaijani rearguard. That was to be the last meaningful action as Alesio's men confirmed their pre-tournament billing as thoroughbred dark horses.



Courtesy: UEFA.com


Clinical Italy outclass Belgium

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Match report by Paul Saffer from Fönix Arena

Italy hit Belgium with goals in the opening stages of each half to get their UEFA European Futsal Championship Group B campaign off to a winning start.

Assis double
Runners-up in 2007, Italy justified their pre-match favouritism when Saad Assis scored in the second minute and, after Belgium had rallied impressively, the same player found the target not long after the break, with Luca Ippoliti adding a penalty soon afterwards and Clayton Baptistella striking late on. Belgium, in their first finals since 2003, know a loss to Ukraine on Thursday would mean elimination.

Early goal
For an Italy side deprived of Edgar Bertoni because of a pre-tournament injury, Marcio Forte immediately tested David Morant and on 99 seconds the Belgium goalkeeper was beaten. Baptistella laid the ball back and Assis produced a ferocious shot. Belgium, without Salhi Saad and Jonathan Neukermans through suspension, took five minutes to create their first chance, Yassine Achahbar's strike stinging the hands of Alexandre Feller, who also dived to deny André on two separate occasions.

Belgium respond
Although Italy had most of the play, Belgium allowed relatively few chances as the first period wore on, Vinicius Bácaro coming closest as he shot across the face of goal. In fact, Belgium could have been level at the break but Ahmed Sababti's strike hit the post and Feller tipped over Karim Chaibai's header.

Victory sealed
The Azzurri came out determined to reclaim control and within three minutes were 3-0 up. Assis claimed his second goal in similar style to the first, albeit from an angle, after Baptistella's pass. Then Morant fouled Forte in the box and Ippoliti converted. Patrick Nora twice hit the post and in the 38th minute Baptistella made it four from outside the box. Italy can now hope that by the time they kick off here against Ukraine on Saturday, their progress will be assured.


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