Courtesy: UEFA.com

Sensational night in the Spiroudôme

Monday, 25 April 2005

By Paul Saffer in Charleroi

The players, coaches and record crowd were still catching their breath well after the final whistle following the first leg of the fourth UEFA Futsal Cup final - which at half-time looked like turning into a rout for home team Action 21 Charleroi, but by the final whistle was left on a knife-edge ahead of Saturday's return in Russia.

Charleroi lead
Charleroi, in their fourth final, came out of the traps at full pelt, and Dinamo did well to still be at 0-0 ten minutes in. Within 120 seconds, it was 3-1 to Charleroi, Andre and Robinho having struck before Cirilo pulled one back and a fourth Brazilian, home captain Alex, restored the two-goal cushion. When Eder extended the advantage not long before the interval, it seemed that the second leg in Moscow could end up falling into the category of formality.

Dinamo comeback
But the turning point of the game came seconds after the break, as Alex received the ball in front of goal but contrived to shoot straight at Dinamo goalkeeper Pavel Stepanov. Almost immediately, Pelé had reduced the gap and Konstantin Maevski's 33rd-minute effort further eroded the Charleroi lead.

Mood swings
Stepanov told uefa.com: "When it went to 1-0 it was not that bad as we knew that Charleroi could score first. It was more worrying at 4-1 but we felt it did not reflect the game. After that we came back and improved matters and we now have a good chance with our away goals."

Shipping goals
Alex, meanwhile, reflected Charleroi's frustration despite the victory. "It is not normal to ship three goals like that. Before the match we said a three-goal lead would be the perfect result. It was still a good outcome because we won but we must do well again next week. I missed the 5-1 chance as the ball arrived too quickly, soon it went to 4-2 and the game changed. It is our third final and if we don't win again it will be incredible."

Maevski suspension
One problem for Dinamo will be the suspension of Maevski, booked not long after his goal. Stepanov said: "It's not good for us that he will be suspended but we knew it was a possibility as four players were on the yellow card limit." However, Dinamo will have Alexandre Rakhimov back from a ban, and Charleroi are nervously waiting on the fitness of Kelson, who injured his ankle in the first leg but looks likely to be available, along with Eder who suffered a slight knock. Charleroi coach Sergio Benatti said: "[Kelson] is an important player but only one member of the team."

Ivanov concern
Benatti's opposite number, Yuri Rudnev, kept competition leading scorer Sergei Ivanov on the bench as he was worried the PVC terraflex surface at the Spiroudôme could aggravate a previous injury. "The pitch was not good for Ivanov, but he will play a part in Moscow," Rudnev said.

No advantage
However, Benatti insisted: "The pitch was not an advantage for us as we do not play league games or train there - we have only played there in the second qualifying round and trained there once."

Enthralling tie
While the wooden-floored Druzhba hall in Moscow will not hold the 6,500 crowd that packed into the Spiroudôme - a record for the final - the atmosphere is sure to be as intense, with Dinamo hoping their direct approach will outdo Charleroi's possession game. The unleashing of Ivanov could well prove a crucial factor in this enthralling tie.



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Charleroi can count on Kelson

Monday, 25 April 2005

Belgian side Action 21 Charleroi are breathing a sigh of relief as the ankle injury suffered by Kelson in the first leg of the UEFA Futsal Cup final against MFK Dinamo Moskva seems unlikely to rule him out for the return in Moscow on Saturday.

Slight damage
The 24-year-old Brazilian defender was carried out on to the bench for the second half with his right leg heavily strapped. However, treatment was performed directly after the game by club doctor Carl Willem, who diagnosed slight damage to ankle bones, and has given Kelson a 99 per cent chance of making the trip to Russia.

Eder fit
His team-mate Eder sustained a slight knee tendon strain but is also set to be fit. Charleroi, in their third final, won the first leg 4-3. Dinamo are without the suspended Konstantin Maevski but otherwise both teams are expected to be at full strength.


Courtesy: UEFA.com

'It will be very difficult in Moscow'

Saturday, 23 April 2005

Action 21 Charleroi were pegged back to a one-goal advantage after their home first leg in the UEFA Futsal Cup final having led MFK Dinamo Moskva 4-1 at the break. All parties concerned admit that the return in Russia a week today is intriguingly poised.

Sergio Benatti, Charleroi coach
I am not that happy with the match as I would have preferred 1-0 to 4-3 due to the away goals rule. It was a great first half to go 4-1 up, but we missed a great chance to go to 5-1 and the match changed. The second goal for Dinamo changed everything. 4-3 is better than 4-4 but it will be very difficult in Moscow. We do not know yet if [injured] Kelson will play next week.

Yuri Rudnev, Dinamo coach
For me there was not much difference between the first and second halves in terms of our performances. But Charleroi were very strong and we had trouble coming to terms with the [PVC terraflex] surface, which was not good for [tournament leading scorer] Sergei Ivanov. I will make changes in the second leg, which will be another difficult match. I am very satisfied with the one-goal margin, it is a good away result. Our objective hasn't changed - it is to win the trophy.

Andre, Charleroi midfield player
We have won the battle but not the war. It is a small advantage for the second leg, two years ago we drew with Playas [de Castellón FS] and after losing the second leg we thought that winning the first game would have been a huge advantage. But a one-goal lead is not very much, we made mistakes and missed chances which you cannot afford at this level. We will not change our style next week.

Pavel Stepanov, Dinamo goalkeeper
We lost, but the situation is that we need to win next week, which maybe is not a bad situation for us. We have a good chance with the away goals. At half-time our coaches asked us to keep calm and concentrate on playing our usual game.