Courtesy: UEFA

Shakhtar seal semi-final spot

Monday, 30 January 2006

by Aleksandar Boškovic

from Palata Pionir

FC Shakhtar Donetsk are through to the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals with a match to spare thanks to a victory against second qualifying round Group B hosts KMF Marbo Beograd.

Beograd need victory
Having defeated holders Action 21 Charleroi 4-1 on Sunday, Shakhtar knew a win would secure a top-two place as Beograd had drawn 4-4 with MFK Dinamo Moskva in yesterday's other game. As Dinamo defeated Charleroi to end the champions' campaign in the late match, Beograd must defeat the Belgian team on Wednesday and hope Shakhtar beat Dinamo to have any hope of going through on goal difference.

Capacity crowd
Both these teams used counterattacking tactics on Sunday, and each stuck with that approach today, leading to a tight first half. Beograd, though, were cheered on by a packed Palate Pionir, a capacity 6,000 crowd again filling the arena and giving their all. Fedir Pylypiv of Shakhtar went close on eight minutes from distance and late in the first half Beograd's Predrag Rajic threatened in a similar way. However, goalkeepers Predrag Brazakovic of Beograd and Skahtar's Vladyslav Kornyeyev were dominant.

Goal apiece
At least until the final minute of the half, as Shakhtar scored following a fine team move. Captain Ramis Mansurov instigated it, Igor Maokvychov then took the ball forward on a solo run and found Oleg Miroshnyk to strike in from close range. With Beograd forced to push for an equaliser, there was more space in the second half. Eight minutes in Pylypiv brought down Rajic and Igor Šoša converted the penalty.

Shakhtar through
Now the caution returned, with defeat costly for either team. But with three minutes to go Miroshnyk's pass following a corner came to Sergiy Zadorozhnyi, who gave Shakhtar a lead they were never to relinquish. Beograd withdrew Brazakovic in an attempt to salvage a point, but the unguarded home goal proved enticing for Shakhtar, and Miroshnyk twice scored after stealing the ball and shooting into the empty net. Shakhtar will clinch first place, and avoid a semi-final against 2004 champions and Group A winners Boomerang Interviú, if they gain a point against Dinamo on Wednesday.

Coach happy
Shakhtar coach Oleg Solodovnyk, whose team twice fell at the second qualifying round stage in previous years, said: "We have finished our primary job, as we will play in the semi-finals. Maybe it is a surprise, but only for others - for me it is not. We were fresher than the home team, that's the main reason for our victory. We will play for another victory against Dinamo Moskva."

'Too much space'
Meanwhile, joint Beograd coach Goran Ivancic said: "Marbo are among the best eight in Europe, that's a great success. But I am not satisfied with tonight's game, we were very bad in defence and allowed too much space for the visiting players. We must now be brave in the last match."




Courtesy: UEFA

Dinamo end Charleroi reign

Monday, 30 January 2006

by Aleksandar Boškovic

from Palata Pionir

Action 21 Charleroi's reign as UEFA Futsal Cup holders is over following a defeat by the side they beat to lift the trophy last April.

Dinamo delight
Having lost 4-1 to FC Shakhtar Donetsk in their second qualifying round Group B opener in Belgrade yesterday, Charleroi knew they could not afford another loss as they squared up to MFK Dinamo Moskva. However, the Russian side recovered from conceding two early goals to not only gain revenge on Charleroi, but also to move to within a point of the semi-finals.

Exciting start
It seemed Charleroi's performance on Sunday would only be a blip when they scored twice in the first four minutes through Robinho, looking superb having missed the match against Shakhtar, and Lúcio Rosa. But Dinamo showed their fighting spirit in coming from behind to draw 4-4 with KMF Marbo Beograd on Sunday, and by the end of the fifth minute were level. First Pelé converted a free-kick from six metres out and then Tatu and Joan combined to set up ex-Charleroi man Kelson for the equaliser.

Thriller repeated
So the scene was set for an encounter which brought back memories of these teams' thrilling two-legged 2005 final, which Charleroi won 10-9 after extra time in Moscow. Joan, Sirilo, Tatu and Konstantin Maevski were inspired for Dinamo, while Alex, Lúcio Rosa, Giuliano and Robinho showed the Belgian champions would not give up their European title without a fight.

Charleroi crumble
But Tatu, a recent Dinamo signing, made a decisive move with nine minutes left as he beat two Charleroi players and shot into the right-hand corner of the net. Now all five Charleroi players joined the attack, leaving Dinamo to score on the counterattack in the 39th minute through both Maevskiy and Joan. Dinamo had accumulated six fouls, and Alex converted a long penalty in the final minute, but after Robinho was taken down he missed his next attempt and Charleroi's campaign was over.

Point needed
Dinamo will go through with a point against already-qualified Shakhtar on Wednesday, while if they are defeated they will hope Charleroi do not lose to Beograd to leave the runners-up spot decided by goal difference. The Russian champions' coach Viktor Papaev said: "Our goalkeeper Pavel Stepanov was brilliant."

Benatti reacts
His opposite number Sergio Benatti said: "We played this match with only five players. The rest were very bad and one of them, I do not want to say his name, played like he was on the beach, not in a very important European competition. I congratulate Dinamo. My team is still young and we must wait for better results. Club politics mean we now mix Belgian and Brazilian players, but we must remember their ages."



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