Courtesy: UEFA

Sparky Beograd defy Dinamo

Sunday, 29 January 2006

by Aleksandar Boškovic

from Palata Pionir

The capacity 6,000 crowd - a record for Serbo-Montenegrin Futsal - in the Palata Pionir were rewarded with a thriller as UEFA Futsal Cup second qualifying round Group B opened with pool hosts KMF Marbo Beograd holding 2005 runners-up, and many people's favourites to go one better this time, MFK Dinamo Moskva.

Three goals in two minutes
It took Beograd only 35 seconds to score. Captain Bojan Pavicevic's corner fell nicely to Predrag Rajic, who finished comfortably. However, only 74 seconds later it was 1-1, also from a corner, as Tatu, on his competition debut for Dinamo, sent in a cross for Joan to equalise. A minute later, Joan put Dinamo ahead following a quick free-kick.

Rajic hat-trick
Dinamo were now having the best of the play, while Beograd relied on the counterattack. However, in the 12th minute it was the home side that scored twice - each time through Rajic, from a shot ten metres out, then completing his hat-trick after a clever pass from Pavicevic.

Brazilians rampant
That did not dishearten Dinamo, though, and with Joan and Sirilo in typically rampant form they levelled in the 19th minute, Joan setting up his fellow Brazilian. But just before the break Beograd restored their lead, Pavicevic catching out Dinamo goalkeeper Pavel Stepanov with a snap shot.

Triple save
After the break Dinamo took total control of the game, knowing how costly a defeat could be. On 28 minutes they equalised, Alexandre Rakhimov and Cirilo combining to set up Konstantin Maevski. But they could not force a winner, Predrag Brzakovic making a superb triple save from Cirilo three minutes from time.

Coach's delight
On Monday, Beograd take on FC Shakhtar Donetsk, who defeated holders Action 21 Charleroi 4-1 in today's other game. Home coach Dejan Knezevic said: "I am satisfied. We spent two months preparing and hoped to take our chance against Charleroi and Shakhtar, but we have one point from the start. It's great to realise your dream. Now, we are full of optimism and I just said to my players: 'Go and do even more, win the next two matches and reach the semi-finals.' Congratulations to the Russian team, they showed why they are the best team in Europe."

'Still upbeat'
His opposite number, the recently-appointed Viktor Papaev, said: "I thought we would win. I am disappointed with our defence. I did not know anything about Marbo, I believed that our quality would be enough.I have seen one great Serbo-Montenegrin team, but I am still upbeat and we will be in the last four."



Courtesy: UEFA

Shakhtar shock the holders

Sunday, 29 January 2006

by Aleksandar Boškovic

from Palata Pionir

Action 21 Charleroi face a huge battle to retain the UEFA Futsal Cup after FC Shakhtar Donetsk comfortably defeated the holders in their opening second qualifying round Group B match in Belgrade.

Shakhtar ahead
Ambitious Shakhtar had said before the game that they could upset the Belgian giants, but had to withstand an early storm as Alex and Chico missed early chances. Shakhtar punished them in the eighth minute with their first chance, as Fedir Pylypiv went on a solo run and shot in from 12 metres out.

Alex goal
Charleroi remained on the attack, but Shakhtar were resolute in defence and swift on the counter, and Oleg Miroshnyk doubled the lead. Charleroi were lacking the killer pass, but were able to pull one back with three minutes of the first half remaining when Lúcio Rosa crossed and captain Alex found the target.

Charleroi denied
The holders began strongly after the break, with fine passing combinations. They found Vladyslav Kornyeyev in superb form in the Shakhtar goal, heroics which spurred the Ukrainian side on to victory which two goals coming in the 32nd minute. First Igor Moskvychov and captain Ramis Mansurov set up Pylypiv, and then Miroshnyk made it 4-1 on the counter.

'Must change something'
Now Charleroi must at least avoid defeat on Monday when they meet the team they beat in last season's final, MFK Dinamo Moskva, who were held 4-4 by group hosts KMF Marbo Beograd today. Charleroi coach Sergio Benatti said: "We must change something, that's clear. But what? I will be thinking about that overnight. We still have a chance to go through, but we must be much, much better. We lost concentration at the most important points of this match."

One win away
Shakhtar play Beograd knowing victory would take them into the semi-finals. Coach Oleg Solodovnyk said: "We had so much respect for the European champions. We still have it, but we beat them because we believed we could. I know that we played very defensively. Sometimes tactics are more important than the names of the players."



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