Courtesy: UEFA

Russia rampant against holders

Friday, 18 February 2005

By Greg Demetriou at the CEZ Arena

Russia have a Sunday showdown with Spain after beating the holders in a thrilling last-four meeting at the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship.

Lead lost

The all-action Azzurri had looked to be cruising towards a repeat of the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship final last December, when Spain won 2-1. However, two goals in 25 seconds from Sergei Ivanov and Aleksandr Levin, and some outstanding goalkeeping, in the closing stages stunned the Italians, who were coming off the back of a 3-1 victory against Spain last night in an admittedly academic group meeting.

Perfect record

Alessandro Nuccorini's team were the only ones to finish the first stage with a 100 per cent record in Group B while Russia began Group A with two wins, before a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Ukraine yesterday. But the end of Italy's perfect sequence means Oleg Ivanov's men will face Spain in the final at 17.15CET on Sunday, with the deposed champions having to be content with a third-placed play-off aginst Ukraine at 14.00.

Great goal

Italy had Pellegrini back in their ranks after suspension while Russia were able to call upon the services of Vladislav Shayakhmetov who had missed their last fixture with a toe injury. Sandro Zanetti was in determined mood from the start and his third-minute opener said everything about his performances at these finals. With no danger apparent, he set off from the left wing, burst past three players, played a neat one-two and then scored with aplomb.

Foukine fire

However, for all Italy's early pressure, Russia came back at them. Ivanov was the main thorn in their side, brushing aside taller and stronger defenders with ease but could not find the finishing touch to match his approach play. The 19-year-old Aleksander Foukine also took his chance to shine, dancing through before tjust shot wide. That raised the spirits of the pocket of Russian fans who were singing in full voice, with scarves - a necessity considering the inclement weather outside - being held proudly aloft.

Parity restored

The equaliser was indeed coming. On 14 minutes, Ivanov's fierce shot cannoned off Alexander Feller and Shayakhmetov gleefully fired in the rebound for his fourth of the competition. The irrepressible Zanetti did his best to raise his team-mates, backheeling one chance goalwards while Ivanov then raced up the other end, only to be muscled out of it this time by Fabiano.

Decisive goal

It was four minutes into the second half before the next concerted piece of action, Montovanelli supplying it with a splendid shot from distance that Zouev did well to parry. Italy were back in the game and Zanetti soon squeezed a shot inside a defender and beyond the goalkeeper for the decisive goal of the night. Two minutes later, Nando Grana tried a piledriver that knocked the outstanding Zouev off his feet.

Another equaliser

Russia knew they had a chance. But Zanetti was still on fire and only a desperate block from Konstantin Maevskiy denied him a third. It was to be a crucial miss though because Shayakhkmetov blasted in his second goal of the night, and fifth of the finals, with eight minutes to play. After a succession of Italian attacks, the Russians stunned the holders with those late efforts from Ivanov and Levin.

Starting lineup

Italy: Alexander Feller, Pellegrini, Montovanelli, Jocimar and Sandro Zanetti.
Russia: Sergei Zouev, Vladislav Shayakhmetov, Konstantin Maevskiy, Sergei Malychev and Sergei Ivanov.