9th World University Futsal Championship 2004



Palma De Mallorca (Spain)



4-10 October 2004


All details from Palma de Mallorca: click here!

Commentary and pictures courtesy: FISU

Today, October 8th, the second round at the 9th World University Futsal Championship in Palma de Mallorca, Spain started. After the preliminary round, the sixteen teams have been divided in a top eight and bottom eight competition with Spain, Slovenia, Russia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Portugal, Brazil and Poland playing for the medals.



GBR vs. FRA

Old rivals France and Great Britain kicked-off this morning in the ‘Son Moix’ venue. Great Britain was seeking its first victory of the championship and put the pressure on the French from the start. It was a game of equal opportunities, but it was France who succeeded in getting a lead as Alexandre Dodet scored in the fifteenth minute of the game. In the second half, the British fought back and team captain Mark Simmons scored the equalizer in the thirty sixth minute. Both teams tried to get ahead of each other and Team GBR missed an excellent opportunity as the ball missed an open goal. The game ended 1:1 and after penalties it became 4:3 in favour of France.


TUR vs. SVK

In the ‘Germans Escallas’ venue, Turkey and Slovakia kicked-off their second round playing a very close game. Slovakia opened the scoring four minutes into the game via Horak. Hardly two minutes later, the Slovaks scored twice via Galla and Sluka, bringing the score to 3:0 for Slovakia. Then Turkey woke up and started fighting back marking not less than five goals in a row bringing the score to a 3:5 lead for Turkey. Slovakia came back scoring three more goals and taking the victory as the final result of the game was 6:5 in favour of Slovakia.



RUS vs. POR

With the semi-finals at stake the game between Portugal and Russia was a fierce battle. The young Portuguese team lacked some experience in its game against the Russians who are known for their physical play. The Portuguese stuck to the Russians with a number of cautions as result. Portugal opened the scoring in the third minute of the game via Caturra. Hardly three minutes later, Levin countered for Russia. In the thirteenth minute of the first half Levin scored again placing a cannon shot in the left high corner pocket leaving the Portuguese goalie chanceless. Russia continued its lead to 3:1 when Portugal came back into the game scoring its second goal. In the second half the Russians continued to dominate the game resulting in a 6:4 victory for Russia.

SLO vs. BRA

The game between Slovenia and Brazil was dominated by the Brazilians. In the first half the Brazilians scored four goals. Early in the second half they scored two more securing their spot for the semi-finals.



SUI vs. SCG

Switzerland started the game very promising scoring the first goal by Jerôme Granginard hardly four minutes in the first half. But then they lost control as Serbia and Montenegro started to score one goal after another resulting in a 1:8 victory.


HUN vs. ISR

The game between Hungary and Israel ended in a draw. Hungary took the lead scoring two goals in a row via Peter and Lorano. The Israel recovered from the blows to their defence and also marked to goals via Shay and Eyal. It became 3:2 for Israel after the penalties.



CZE vs. UKR

The game between Czech Republic and Ukraine ended in a draw. The Czechs opened the scoring with Vit Blazoj scoring in the fifth minute of the first half. Ukraine countered six minutes later via Vitally Brunko. His goal was the beginning of a scoring streak with Zamyatin and Severynenko scoring the second and third goal for Team Ukraine. It took the Czechs until the Thirty seventh minute to score their second goal via Sluka. Right before the end of the period Pleyer scored the equalizer: final score 3:3. Penalties were taken with a 2:3 result in favour for Team Ukraine.



ESP vs. POL

Home team Spain was very eager to qualify for the semi-finals and played a very offensive game against Poland. Socastra scored in the seventh minute of the first half for Spain. His team mates Parraga and Modrego scored the second and third goal bringing the score to 3:0. In the last minute of the first half, Celeban of Poland managed to break through and fired away marking the first and only goal for Poland. In the second half Spain scored another three goals bringing the score to 6:1 and qualifying for the semi-finals.


Day 4 Results

France vs. Great Britain: 1-1 (4-3 after penalties)
Turkey vs. Slovakia: 5-6
Russia vs. Portugal: 6-4
Slovenia vs. Brazil: 0-6
Switzerland vs. Serbia & Montenegro: 1-8
Israel vs. Hungary: 2-2 (3-2 after penalties)
Czech Republic vs. Ukraine: 3-3 (2-3 after penalties)
Spain vs. Poland: 6-1