Courtesy Uefa.com

Comfortable passage for Ukraine

Thursday, 06 November 2003

Ukraine eased their way through to the play-offs for the FIFA Futsal World Championship after taking first place in qualifying Group 4.

Koridze involved

The runners-up at the last two UEFA European Futsal Championships were too strong for Kazakhstan and Andorra at a mini-tournament hosted by the latter nation in Andorra La Vella. Serhiy Koridze, the top scorer at those last two UEFA events, was again in the Ukrainian ranks but it was noticeable that the side shared the goals around this time.

Upset possible

Ukraine got the ball rolling with a 3-1 victory against a Kazakh side that actually led the contest at half-time. An Alexandr Bondarev goal after just 18 minutes left many in the crowd contemplating the possibility of a major upset at half-time but the Ukrainians found their form after the interval. Ihor Moskvychov levelled matters a minute after the restart before Koridze put the Ukrainians in front with eleven minutes to play. Moskvychov then wrapped up victory with his second in the dying minutes as the Kazakhs searched for an equaliser.

First victory

The Kazakhs picked up three points in their next outing by seeing off the Andorrans with a 4-1 victory. Bondarev again got things going with a goal in the first minute but Andorra drew level six minutes later through Miguel Blazquez Cerdeira. Aleksandr Lisin put the Kazakhs in front again on 12 minutes but the sending off of Artyom Glebow just before half-time gave the Andorrans hope. However, they could not find a way through and late strikes from Ramil Yussupov and Alibek Karimov settled it in Kazakhstan's favour.

Melnikov delight

Ukraine only needed a point against Andorra in the final match to clinch first place, but romped to a 6-1 victory anyway. Koridze was again on target while Georgiy Melnikov led the way with a second-half double. Blazquez Cerdeira scored his, and Andorra's second, of the competition with a 27th-minute consolation.