Courtesy: UEFA

Strong threat to 2004 finalists

Friday, 27 January 2006

Boomerang Interviú and SL Benfica will be hoping that by the time they play in the last match of UEFA Futsal Cup Group A in Lisbon on Wednesday, both 2004 finalists will be through to the 2006 semi-finals. Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty and Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz of Belgium have other ideas when they each meet the two favourites on Sunday and Monday.

Two go through
Spanish champions Boomerang beat Benfica to win the trophy just less than two years ago, lifting the trophy in the Pavilhão da Luz. However, last season they relinquished their European title, conceding a equaliser 20 seconds from the end of their final second qualifying round match against Morlanwelz's Belgian rivals Action 21 Charleroi. Boomerang were second in the group, but only this year do two sides progress from each pool to a new semi-final round.

Wake-up call
Jesús Candelas's side are in decent form, beating Benfica to win the Taça Ibérica and lying just behind El Pozo Murcia FS in the Spanish league. However, lost week they lost the Copa de España for the first time in three years after a penalty shoot-out defeat by Autos Lobelle de Santiago FS. The coach believes that could be a wake-up call.

'More motivated'
Candelas, whose team can banish the ghosts of last season when they face Charleroi's compatriots Morlanwelz in their Sunday opener, said: "We are more motivated now because of the Copa de España defeat, but the UEFA Cup is our true objective."

Brazilian signings
Benfica, meanwhile, open against Kairat. Like Boomerang, Benfica and Kairat won all three of their first qualifying round matches, and although the Portuguese champions are currently well adrift of Sporting Clube de Portugal in their domestic league, the arrivals of Brazilians Ricardo Moretti, Sidnei, Coco, Wilson and William have left the team in a strong position.

Kairat threat
Kairat have several Brazilians of their own, however, not least FIFA Futsal World Championship winner Wagner Dias Das Neves. They have already improved on their debut showing from last season, and when in the last stage they defeated group hosts FC Raba Riga 6-1, won 4-1 against FC Dorozhnik Minsk and routed Romanian side A.C.S. Odorheiu Secuiesc 8-2 with Yuriy Butrin scoring twice on each occasion, Kairat sent out a clear message about their ability.

Experience
Among their other key players are experienced Kazakh international Alexandr Bondarev, captain Etienne Gomes De Oliveira, Ricardo Camara Sobral and goalkeeper Gustavo Lobo Paradeda, who is happy to surge forward and help his forwards. Sergio Camara Sobral parted company with the team after their Riga fixtures, but was replaced with another Brazilian, Neto. Kairat also have a Brazilian coach in Paulo Augusto.

'High spirits'
Etienne said: "Of course, our rivals will be much stronger than they were in the first qualifying round. But they are not unbeatable. Besides, we are in top form. We are clear leaders in our domestic league and will travel to Portugal in high spirits. I played against Boomerang when I was at El Pozo Murcia and I believe we can defeat them." Ambitious club president Kayrat Orazbekov added: "Any other result but reaching the semi-finals will be regarded as a failure."

Strong contenders
Morlanwelz are also strong contenders, just a point behind European champions Charleroi in the Belgian league, having drawn 5-5 with their big rivals on 5 December, an improvement on the previous month when they lost the Belgian Super Cup 7-1 at home. Bettinho Bezerra do Carmo has struck 26 times for Morlanwelz this season, the best in Belgium.





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