Courtesy: UEFA.com

Showdown for holders and hosts

Tuesday, 15 March 2005

Interviú Boomerang FS and Action 21 Charleroi have set up a Thursday showdown for a place in the UEFA Futsal Cup final.

Both winners

The Spanish and Belgian champions both made it two wins from two against Sporting Clube de Portugal and KMN Litija on the second day of Group A action from the Spiroudôme in Charleroi. Boomerang were 4-3 victors against Sporting while Charleroi secured a 3-1 triumph against Litija.

Tide turned

Boomerang took the lead through Andreu midway through the first half but found themselves 2-1 down at the break after goals from João Marcal and Deo. Marquinho restored parity four minutes after the restart before Luis and Schumacher turned the scoreline in Boomerang's favour. Deo's second of the night gave Sporting a lifeline but they were to be beaten for a second time.

Double strike

Charleroi then joined Boomerang on six points with their second straight win. The hosts had Lúcio Rosa to thank for their victory with two goals just before half-time. Alex had put them in front on eight minutes only for Slaviša Goranovic to equalise for the Slovenian side almost immediately. However, just as the home fans began to wonder whether this might be their night, the 29-year-old Brazilian Lúcio Rosa found his range.

Dramatic finale

It all means the winner of Boomerang and Charleroi's meeting on Thursday night at 20.30CET will definitely progress to next month's two-legged final against the winners of Group B, which begins in Moscow on Saturday. A draw, in front of a sell-out home crowd of 6,500, would be enough to take Charleroi through on goal difference. Sporting and Litija will be playing just for pride at 18.00.