Courtesy: UEFA.com

Morlanwelz take next step

Thursday, 20 October 2005

Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz have become the second Belgian side through to the 2005/06 UEFA Futsal Cup second qualifying round.

Special reception
Such is the club's pride at victory, they are hoping their fans will flock to Brussels Zaventem airport at 10pm on Friday to greet them on their return from Bosnia-Herzegovina. There will then be a special reception to cheer the players at the Morlanwelz sports hall at 11.30pm.

Top spot
Morlanwelz, taking part in the UEFA Futsal Cup because domestic league winners Action 21 Charleroi are the reigning European champions, clinched top spot in Group 5 of the first qualifying round tonight. However, they were pushed hard by MNK Karaka C.O. Mostar, the Bosnian team who were hosting the mini-tournament.

Twice behind
Morlanwelz began in stuttering fashion last Monday with a 4-4 draw against Araz Naxçivan of Azerbaijan. Ricardo Falasque Junior put the Belgian side in front after three minutes but Rajab Faradj-Zade and Diogenes Leandro Da Silva Pires gave the Azeri side the half-time advantage. Araz then led 3-1 and 4-3 only for Roberto Wagner Bezella De Carro to ensure a draw.

Great comeback
Karaka also served up a thrilling opener against FCK De Hommel of the Netherlands. Tim Hujdts and Rene Marechal put the Dutch club into a two-goal lead inside seven minutes only for the hosts to storm back in stunning fashion. The match was level at the break and a second-half hat-trick from Dalibor Duvnjak ensured a 6-3 victory.

Nervy occasion
De Hommel also pushed Morlanwelz hard the following day. A Wilson Pires De Carvalho hat-trick helped the Belgian club to a 4-1 lead. However, Eric De Jongh pulled one more back before the interval and, in the 22nd minute, Marciano Bouwman cut the gap to one but that was the end of the scoring. Karaka also trailed in their second outing but the hosts fought back to win 4-2.

Decisive meeting
So to tonight, and Araz made sure of third place in the group by beating De Hommel 3-0 in their final fixture. That was followed by a winner-takes-all meeting between Morlanwelz and Karaka. As was to be expected it was a tight affair, and only a fifth-minute goal from Morlanwelz's Ricardo could separate the teams.

Tough tests
It sent the Belgian side into the next year's second qualifying round, where they will come up against Boomerang Interviú FS, SL Benfica and FC Kairat Almaty in Group A. The top two from that section will meet their counterparts from Group B in the semi-finals.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com