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UEFA.comBenfica lift Futsal Cup in LisbonSunday 25 April 2010Interviú Madrid 2-3 SL Benfica (aet)
Davi's extra-time strike earned Benfica their first UEFA Futsal Cup to the delight of a competition-record 9,400 crowd. by
Paul Bryan from Pavilhão Atlântico
SL Benfica claimed their first UEFA Futsal Cup thanks to an extra-time winner from Davi against holders Interviú Madrid.
Benfica recovered from going behind to Marquinho's early effort with goals from Joel Queirós and Arnaldo. Although Betão forced extra time for Jesús Candelas's side, Davi poked in to send the majority of the competition-record 9,400 crowd inside the Pavilhão Atlántico into raptures.
Playing in a repeat of the two-legged 2004 final, which Interviú won for the first of their record three titles, both sides probed for openings in the early stages. It was visiting pivot Betão who created the game's first chance, manoeuvring through the hosts' defence before drilling a shot against the outside of the post.
At the other end, Spain goalkeeper Luis Amado was reproducing his typically superb form from Interviú's semi-final defeat of Araz Naxçivan on Friday, beating away fiercely struck efforts from César Paulo and Arnaldo. Having soaked up Benfica pressure, Interviú took the lead when Marquinho countered and cleverly slotted through the legs of Bébé in the seventh minute.
With the help of the passionate home support Benfica responded after Joel Queirós was awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area. The forward positioned himself to accept Ricardinho's short pass before blasting in his 12th goal of the competition, leaving him as top scorer, an honour he also shared for Portugal at the UEFA European Futsal Championship finals in January.
Shortly after the restart it was Benfica who took the lead. From another well-worked set-piece, Ricardinho fed César Paulo, who, in turn, back-heeled for Arnaldo to score. The advantage would last only three minutes, though, as Betão produced a back-heel of his own with Bébé out of position.
Continually demonstrating why his injury absence from Futsal EURO was a real loss for Portugal, Ricardinho's exceptional footwork was a constant threat to Interviú, providing chances for Davi and Joel which Amado did well to save. As the half progressed more chances came Benfica's way and they were unlucky not to go in front when César Paulo's chip landed on the crossbar.
The game progressed into extra time, where Davi – a 2005 winner with Action 21 Charleroi, also after an additional ten minutes – soon pounced on Amado's loose pass before striking past the despairing goalkeeper. Now the home fans sensed that victory was theirs and it was eventually achieved under the gaze of the famous Benfica eagle perched behind the visiting goal.
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UEFA.comLima soaring after 'perfect final'Sunday 25 April 2010SL Benfica coach André Lima said their 3-2 dethroning of holders Interviú Madrid was "the perfect final with an unbelievable crowd", while Jesús Candelas described his side's devastation.by
Lucho Mera from Pavilhão Atlântico
Coach André Lima watched his SL Benfica side beat holders Interviú Madrid in the UEFA Futsal Cup final in front of a competition-record 9,400 attendance at Lisbon's Pavilhão Atlântico and swelled with "enormous pride". Lima had played in the 2004 final when Benfica lost to an Interviú side coached, as now, by Jesús Candelas, who praised the hosts as deserved winners of a close game.
André Lima, Benfica coachIt was the perfect final with an unbelievable crowd at the arena. We faced the best team in the world and what's more we had to play extra time. Interviú were a little lucky at times and without the many interventions of Luis Amado extra time wouldn't have been needed. Maybe to win a tournament like this we also needed that little bit of luck but we pushed and pushed to make sure that things went our way.
I feel enormous pride at the moment. There were many times in my career that I had to look up to Interviú Madrid but right now I can say that for once it's their turn to look up at us; I have enormous respect for them. We were the best team throughout the encounter and so our victory is deserved. We played the perfect game tonight. We've wanted to win this tournament for so long and we've finally achieved our goal.
Jesús Candelas, Interviú coachMy first words tonight are to congratulate the victors, Benfica are the champions and the champions are always the just winners. They controlled the rhythm of the game while we entered into the type of match that really didn't suit us. We were missing that extra bit of nerve, that extra step in our game and at times we were just a second off the pace.
It would have been nice to have the type of constant support from the crowd they enjoyed throughout the game. The guys in the dressing room are completely destroyed at the moment. It's tough on us because we were always close; we were mostly on a par with Benfica and the game was quite even. Unfortunately the expectations placed upon us were so big going into the game that the defeat represents a big blow.
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UEFA.comAraz clinch third place on penaltiesSunday 25 April 2010Araz Naxçivan 2-2 Luparense C/5 (Araz win 5-4 on pens)
Vitaliy Borisov hit the winning penalty to give Araz bronze after Thiago had denied Luparense victory in normal time. by
Paul Bryan from Pavilhão Atlântico
Araz Naxçivan claimed third place in the UEFA Futsal Cup finals with a penalty shoot-out defeat of Luparense C/5.
Vitaliy Borisov scored an early opener for the Azerbaijani outfit but their Italian counterparts were ahead at the break thanks to César Muñoz Calvo and Clayton Baptistella. Thiago's late effort brought the teams level before Borisov converted the winning spot kick in the shoot-out.
Having severely tested holders Interviú Madrid in the semi-finals on Friday, Araz were ahead in the fourth minute on Sunday with Borisov shooting through the legs of goalkeeper Miguel Weber. Luparense were on terms not long afterwards when César Muñoz Calvo eventually profited from Baptistella's wonderful trickery on the left wing.
Victims of hosts SL Benfica in the last four, Luparense began to up the tempo and after testing Andrey Tveryankin in the Araz goal on several occasions, they took the lead in the 18th minute when Baptistella lifted Poncio Danieli's cross into the net.
Aleksei Petrov hit the underside of the crossbar in the ninth minute of the second half as Araz looked to respond and Felipe brought a fine save from Weber moments later. Then, with the game seemingly slipping away, Thiago finished in the corner to send the game to penalties. With Tveryankin saving Luparense's second attempt, denying Vampeta, it was left to Borisov to score the winning kick that sparked scenes of jubilation among men in red.
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UEFA.comJoel tops scorers' tableSunday 25 April 2010Joel Queirós struck in SL Benfica's 3-2 defeat of Interviú Madrid to finish as top scorer for the 2009/10 UEFA Futsal Cup and shared the honour for the Lisbon finals with team-mate Arnaldo.SL Benfica's Joel Queirós ended the 2009/10 UEFA Futsal Cup as top scorer thanks to his goal in the 3-2 final victory against Interviú Madrid.
Joel began Sunday's decider in Lisbon level with Luparense C/5 striker Vampeta and Aleksejs Baranovs of FK Nikars Riga on 11 goals and his first-half equaliser took him clear. Added to his two goals in the last-four defeat of Luparense, Joel also finished joint top scorer of the finals in Lisbon with team-mate Arnaldo, also on target on Sunday. Portuguese international Joel shared a similar honour at the UEFA European Futsal Championship in January.
The record for a season remains 19 by André Vanderlei for Action 21 Charleroi in 2003/04. He is the only player to twice finish top scorer and his career tally of 49 is a competition record, four clear of another Charleroi player, Lúcio, and Schumacher, part of the Interviú side on Sunday.
2009/10 UEFA Futsal Cup top scorersPlayer (Club) ->
Goals Joel Queirós (SL Benfica - POR) ->
12 Aleksejs
Baranovs (FK Nikars Riga - LVA) ->
11Vampeta (Luparense C/5 - ITA) ->
11 Maksym
Pavlenko (Time Lviv - UKR) ->
9 Biro Jade (Araz Naxçivan - AZE) ->
8Arnaldo (SL Benfica - POR) ->
8 Vitaliy
Borisov (Araz Naxçivan - AZE) ->
8 Armen
Gyulambaryan (Erebuni Yerevan - ARM) ->
8 Miljan
Vico (KMF Leotar Trebinje - BIH) ->
8 2009/10 UEFA Futsal Cup finals top scorersPlayer (Club) ->
Goals Arnaldo (SL Benfica - POR) ->
3Joel Queirós (SL Benfica - POR) ->
3Clayton
Baptistella (Luparense C/5 - ITA) ->
2Betão (Interviú Madrid - ESP) ->
2 Davi (SL Benfica - POR) ->
2Ricardinho (SL Benfica - POR) ->
2 Previous season top scorersSeason -
Player (Club) ->
Goals 2008/09 - Samir
Makhoukhi (FC Blok Beverwijk - NED) ->
9 2007/08 - Karim
Bali (Futsal Topsport Antwerpen - BEL) ->
132006/07 - Serhiy
Sytin (FC Shakhtar Dontesk - UKR) ->
10 2005/06 - Predrag
Rajic (KMF Marbo Beograd - SRB) ->
12 2004/05 - Sergei
Ivanov (MFK Dinamo Moskva - RUS) ->
14 2003/04 -
André Vanderlei (Action 21 Charleroi - BEL) ->
19 2002/03 -
André Vanderlei (Action 21 Charleroi - BEL) ->
15 2001/02 -
Joan (Playas de Castellón FS - ESP) ->
13Posted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
