Courtesy: UEFA.com


Azeris outdo Czechs to clinch group

Thursday 21 January 2010

Match report by Jim Wirth from Papp László Arena

Azerbaijan's stealth attack on the UEFA European Futsal Championship title claimed its second victims in Group A, with a 6-1 defeat of the Czech Republic handing them a Monday quarter-final tie in Budapest against the runners-up in Group B as section winners.

Czech quicksand
With captain Martín Dlouhy surprisingly absent for their opening game, the Czech Republic came out to attack, Zdenek Slama hitting the post with Andrey Tveryankin grounded early on. However, they quickly found the game slipping away from them as Azerbaijan followed up their 3-1 defeat of Hungary on Tuesday with an even more emphatic win.

Early goals
In the third minute, Serjão's lofted ball compelled Biro Jade to volley home from inside the box before Vitaliy Borisov appropriated Slama's wayward pass to race through and beat Tomas Meller in the Czech goal. Inviting Tomas Neumann's side to come at them, Azerbaijan made it 3-0 in the eleventh minute, the quietly impressive Rizvan Farzaliyev ghosting through his marker on the right touchline before crossing for Serjão to slam home. A fourth came four minutes after the break, sturdy Serjão with his back to goal calmly teeing up Thiago to rifle home between two defenders.

Resetar strike
The Czech Republic did not give up though, and while Lukas Resetar's nerve deserted him as he bore down on Tveryankin – passing when he should have shot – he made amends, hammering an angled effort into the Azeri goal from the left flank to inject some belief back into his side. For a moment it looked like they might have a chance of getting back into it, but when Alves picked out Borisov to score his second of the night, the dark clouds descended once more.

Fifth foul
Having committed their fifth foul of the half, the Czech Republic were walking on eggshells for the latter stages, with Biro Jade duly scoring from the spot from Azerbaijan's first double penalty. However there were no further goals, and while Alecio's side will return to the Papp László Arena on Monday, the Czech Republic now must defeat hosts Hungary in their final game on Saturday to earn a last-eight trip to Debrecen as Group A runners-up.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ukraine through as Belgium fall

Thursday 21 January 2010

Match report by Paul Saffer from Fönix Arena

Ukraine took just one UEFA European Futsal Championship Group B fixture to seal a quarter-final place with a win that eliminates Belgium and also takes through Italy.

Progress sealed
Unable to afford a second loss after their 4-0 defeat by Italy, Belgium began brightly but were 3-1 down at the break and could not force their way back. A win against Italy on Saturday would leave Ukraine top of the section, otherwise as runners-up they will travel to Budapest to play Group A winners Azerbaijan.

Belgium threaten
Belgium had Saad Salhi and Jonathan Neukermans back from suspension and both got an early taste of action as they kept the two-time runners-up – without the banned Mykhaylo Romanov – at bay. A superb Belgium passing exchange ended with André's shot rattling the frame of goal. Ukraine goalkeeper Vladyslav Lysenko used his legs to deny Zico and Ahmed Sababti.

Ukraine ahead
However, Ukraine broke the deadlock in the eleventh minute. Dmytro Silchenko sent in a diagonal free-kick from the right and Valeriy Zamyatin flicked in his with heel. Five minutes later Serhiy Cheporniuk crossed and Maxym Pavlenko set up Denys Ovsyannikov to tap in Ukraine's second. Belgium had a stroke of luck when Karim Bachar's shot deflected off the post and the back of the luckless Lysenko into the net. But Belgium conceded their sixth foul and Valeriy Legchanov smashed in the double penalty.

Victory confirmed
The second half began in lively fashion as André's shot was tipped over by Lysenko and Belgium goalkeeper David Morant pulled off a double save from Pavlenko. Belgium lost Mustapha Aabbassi to a second yellow card but while they held out for the two minutes with a player fewer, Ukraine maintained the initiative. Not long after Yevgen Rogachov's shot was tipped on to the post, Pavlenko finished off a neat move. Ukraine even employed a flying goalkeeper late on to try and overtake Italy on goal difference but it was Bachar who struck in the last minute for a Belgium consolation.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


'No party' for victorious Alecio

Thursday 21 January 2010

Match review by Jim Wirth from Budapest

Azerbaijan coach Alecio has promised himself "a trip to the swimming pool and maybe a massage" after a 6-1 defeat of the Czech Republic put the UEFA European Futsal Championship debutants into the quarter-finals as Group A winners.

No celebrations
Having taken an early lead through Biro Jade, Azerbaijan never let up with Tomas Neumann's Czech side comprehensively outplayed at the Papp László Arena. For some, reaching the knockout phase would be cause for a big party – especially with three days rest before their next game – but the Brazilian coach is not in the mood to celebrate too much just yet.

Work to do
"No relaxation and no party yet; we still have work ahead," he said. "I will only think about having a rest or a good time when this is all over. I dedicate this victory to the Azeri people and everyone who follows this team. There will definitely be no sightseeing in our days off; the most I am going to allow myself is a trip to the swimming pool and maybe a massage."

Opposition question
While they are sure of playing their next game in Budapest on Monday, Azerbaijan do not know who they will play yet, with the runners-up in Group B yet to be decided between Italy and Ukraine: a minor frustration for Alecio, but he remains very optimistic. "We realise that there will be tighter games ahead and strong teams, but if we look back we can say if we keep going like this we can face any team," he said.

Czech 'collapse'
Neumann, meanwhile, was left to reflect on "a very big collapse" for his side in the first game of the finals, in their aim to avoid an exit without a point as in 2007. But in contrast to his agitated appearance on the touchline, he told his players after the match "that these things happen and that they will have to concentrate on the next game", though he warned: "There will maybe be some changes in our tactics."

Mistakes
Captain in the absence of the rested Martín Dlouhý, David Fric told uefa.com: "We conceded three goals in five minutes and after this Azerbaijan switched to the counterattack. Then we made a lot of mistakes and committed a lot of fouls and this led to this terrible result. This wasn't really about the Azerbaijan team or not having enough luck, it was more about us and our mistakes in defence." They will hope to have resolved those issues by the time they face Hungary for a last-eight place on Saturday, needing to beat the hosts in front of a partisan crowd.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Lysenchuk sets new goal in victory

Thursday 21 January 2010

Match review by Paul Saffer & Oleg Sokol from Debrecen

Ukraine coach Gennadiy Lysenchuk set his team "two tasks" against Belgium: to win and secure a UEFA European Futsal Championship quarter-final berth at their opponents' expense and to overtake Group B leaders Italy on goal difference.

Second task
The 4-2 result was enough for the first of those, but they needed a victory by a four-goal margin to move ahead of the Azzurri, meaning they must beat them on Saturday to avoid having to travel to Budapest for a last-eight meeting with Group A winners Azerbaijan. "We had two tasks today – the first to win and the second to win by more than Italy," Lysenchuk said. "The second didn't come off because the lads were too nervous and excited. But we played very well and I congratulated them on their performance. But I told them that now they have to beat Italy – that is the plan. That isn't because we are afraid of Azerbaijan, but because we always play to win."

Getting settled
After a difficult first eleven minutes, Valeriy Zamyatin settled Ukraine's nerves with a flick of his heel to open the scoring. "We did not start well, just as any other team at the tournament," he told uefa.com. "We needed time to become accustomed to the pitch and the fast ball. Despite the fact we did not put on our best performance, we played well in general. When we were 3-1 up at half-time we were speaking in the dressing room about winning by enough to only have to draw with Italy. Unfortunately, we did not succeed."

Improvement
Belgium's first finals campaign in seven years is now over but coach Benny Meurs had the consolation of an improved performance from the previous 4-0 loss to Italy. "We started full of confidence, we knew we could do better than against Italy and we proved we could," he said. "To be honest we deserve a bit more than this second loss. Not necessarily a win but a draw would have been logical.

Spirit
"It is a pity, especially for the players, as this is one chance we may never get again to improve ourselves, that's why it is such a pity that we have to leave. But I can only congratulate my players that they went for it until the last second. We gave all we had – tactical play, individual play, playing with a flying goalkeeper – and we even scored in the last minute so they kept going until the end to achieve that small goal."






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