Courtesy: UEFA

Luz return for Boomerang

Tuesday, 29 November 2005

Lisbon and Belgrade have been confirmed as host cities for the two UEFA Futsal Cup second qualifying round groups to be held early next year.

Luz return
Group A will be played at the Pavilhão da Luz home of SL Benfica, which was inaugurated as a European Futsal venue with matches at the same stage in 2003/04. The arena will bring back happy memories for another of the pool contenders, Spain's Boomerang Interviú, who won that year's competition at the Luz by completing a 7-5 aggregate victory, although they lost the match itself 4-3 to Benfica. Coincidentally, they met in the venue tonight in the second leg of the first official Taça Ibérica, the 2-2 draw giving Boomerang the trophy for showdown of the Spanish and Portuguese champions 9-5 overall. Also in Group A are Belgian tournament debutants Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz and Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty.

Belgrade venue
Meanwhile, KMF Marbo Beograd are staging Group B at the impressive Hala Pionir, with the highlight being a rematch of last season's final between holders Action 21 Charleroi and MFK Dinamo Moskva, who have since signed several players from the Belgian champions. Ambitious FC Shakhtar Donetsk will also make the trip to Serbia and Montenegro.

Two progress
Unlike in previous years, the section runners-up as well as the winners will progress, with a new semi-final round matching the first-placed team in one group with the second-placed side in the other. The second qualifying round matches will be played on dates to be confirmed between 28 January and 5 February - with both groups happening simultaneously.



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