Courtesy: UEFA

Finalists bask in cup glory

Friday, 25 March 2005

If a four-year-old competition can be said to have the end of an era, it has just happened in the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Spanish clubs tipped

Spanish sides had won the first three editions, and many pundits believed ahead of the second qualifying round that holders Boomerang Interviú FS and challengers El Pozo Murcia FS would ensure an all-División de Honor final, not least as the national team in which both clubs were represented have won the world and European titles in recent months.

Champions dethroned

But last week Boomerang were dethroned by a last-minute goal that took the Belgium champions and Group A hosts Action 21 Charleroi into next month's final. Then on Tuesday, Russian title-holders MFC Dinamo Moskva overcame Murcia 5-4 in the Russian capital to top Group B and make up for their disappointment of last season when, on their tournament debut, they won their first qualifying round group only to have an 11-2 victory against ZVV West Stars of the Netherlands turned into a 3-0 defeat for fielding an ineligible player.

'What drama!'

But now Dinamo are one two-legged tie from lifting the trophy, as they visit Belgium on 23 April before the return in Moscow seven days later. And they unsurprisingly were basking in their triumph. "What a match! What tension! What drama!" declared club president and legendary Futsal player Konstantin Eremenko, while Sport-Express newspaper reported: "There was the same madness at the stands as there had been on the pitch."

'Great team spirit'

"I am happy with the fact that we were able to defeat one of the strongest teams in the world," said Dinamo coach Yuriy Rudnev. "We managed to show great team spirit and organisation, while every player gave his utmost in defensive play."

No fear
Konstantin Maevski, among the Dimano goalscorers, said: "There was never any trace of timidity before our meeting with the Spanish side. Victory in the UEFA Futsal Cup is one of our main objectives we set at the beginning of the season. To succeed we have to beat all opponents including such venerable teams as Murcia. We entered the pitch never seeing our opponents as favourites, without any fear, and that helped us to win."

Lucio equaliser

It is more familiar territory for Charleroi, who reached the first two finals - losing each time to Playas de Castellón FS - and only narrowly missed out on a third appearance in losing 5-4 to SL Benfica 12 months ago. Still, Boomerang had been warm favourites to progress and looked on their way when they took the lead with one minute left, only for Lucio's equaliser to make it 2-2 with 22 seconds remaining and ensure first place for Charleroi on goal difference.

Memorable occasion

La Dernière Heure newspaper summed up the drama when they declared: "The ones who were not there will regret it - what propaganda for Futsal that this match was! All of the 6,500 spectators at the Spiroudôme will remember it forever.

'Final blow'

"Convinced that nothing could be accomplished [when Boomerang took the lead] some even had left their seats, assuming that Charleroi would suffer their first but fatal defeat of the tournament: They were wrong! Charleroi produced a final blow of incredible force, and opened the door to the UEFA Futsal Cup final in the dying seconds.

'Uncontested masters'

"At this point, Charleroi are the uncontested masters of Europe... and will it get even better? Possible! In fact, the general feeling is the same: Action 21 will force their way to success."