Courtesy: UEFA

Boomerang still on course

Friday, 8 October 2004

UEFA Futsal Cup holders Boomerang Interviú FS produced a champions' performance as they stormed through first qualifying round Group 1, scoring a total of 32 goals against three competition debutants - although for a fleeting moment hosts KMF Marbo Beograd looked like causing a final-game sensation.

Andreu scores six

Having scored 62 goals in their eight-game campaign last season, which culminated in a 7-5 aggregate victory against SL Benfica in the final, Spanish title-holders Boomerang showed they had lost none of their prolific ability when they overwhelmed Andorra's FS Cap del Carrer 17-1 in their opening game. Andreu opened the scoring on five minutes and went on to claim a total of six goals, while Luis managed a hat-trick, Javi Limones and Andreu's twin brother Joan scored twice and Marquinho and Daniel added the other goals. Veteran Pere Babot managed a second-half consolation with the score at 14-0.

Marbo win

Serbo-Montenegrin representatives Marbo had earlier set their stall out as Boomerang's main challengers in the pool by defeating Slovakia's 1. SC Incar Nitra. Predrag Rajic, Zeljko Borojevic and Miloš Mišcevic all struck in the first half, and although Milan Pavlovic pulled one back after Rajic had claimed Marbo's fourth, the home team then struck twice late on through Marko Kocic.

Second victories

Marbo them claimed a 4-0 win against Cap del Carrer, Vladan Cvetanovic and Igor Šoša scoring before the break, and not long after the Andorran side's Francisco Martinez was shown a red card, Milivoje Nikolic and Mišcevic added to the scoreline. Boomerang were not to be undone, and overcame Incar Nitra 8-0. Javi Limones claimed two goals in the first eight minutes, and after a Daniel strike, Joan scored twice before the break. Andreu, Marquinho and Luis were on target in the second period.

Pavlovic treble

Incar Nitra were now out, but recovered well on the final day to beat Cap del Carrer 6-0, Pavlovic managing a hat-trick and Marian Bochnovic, Ladislav Paulovic and Andrej Hesek also scoring. But the key game was to follow, and although they ending up winning 7-3, Boomerang found Marbo tricky customers.

Exciting conclusion

Daniel scored on five and 15 minutes to put Boomerang in the driving seat, but Bojan Pavicevic pulled one back just before the interval. On 24 minutes Marko Kocic equalised and seconds afterwards Šoša gave Marbo the lead they needed to go through. A shock was on the cards, but Schumacher equalised immediately and on 29 minutes Andreu restored Boomerang's advantage. Daniel completed his hat-trick four minutes later, and Andreu and Schumacher scored again to settle any remaining doubts for Jesús Candelas's side.

Charleroi showdown

Boomerang face two-time finalists Action 21 Charleroi - who the Spanish side beat 8-5 in 2002/03 - Slovenia's KMN Litija and the eventual winners of Group 3 in the second qualifying round in March, with the aim of defending their title in the final the following month.