Courtesy: UEFA

Boomerang comeback blunts Benfica

Wednesday, 1 February 2006

by Rui Matos Pereira

from Pavilhão da Luz

Spanish champions Boomerang Interviú completed their UEFA Futsal Cup second qualifying round Group A campaign in style, as they stormed back from 2-0 down to defeat SL Benfica 4-2 - a result that consigns their hosts to elimination.

Must-win game
With surprise package Kairat Almaty having earlier leapfrogged Benfica in the standings with an emphatic victory against Cristal Noir MB Moranwelz earlier tonight, the Portuguese side went into the match knowing that they needed to win to qualify. That was never going to be an easy prospect against a Boomerang side that had racked up 16 goals in just two games to clinch the group, but buoyed on by a vociferous home crowd, Benfica started firmly on the front foot.

Blistering start
Captain André Lima led the way on four minutes, tapping in from point-blank range at the far post following a corner. Pica Pau doubled the lead from a similar distance two minutes later, putting the gloss on a fine counterattack led by Ricardinho to raise the sizeable crowd's hopes of an upset. But having beaten Benfica over two legs in the 2004 UEFA Futsal Cup final, the Spanish side have a fine pedigree in the competition and they soon set about launching a comeback.

Boomerang recovery
Schumacher reduced the deficit on 13 minute when he slotted in the rebound after his shot had been parried back into his path by the outstretched Zè Carlos. By half-time it was honours even as Joan tapped in after good build-up work from Luis and, although Benfica were back on the attack at the start of the second period, by then Boomerang had become wise to their tactics.

Maximum thrust
They responded with some of their own, with Marquinho and Joan both capitalising on the counterattack to ensure Boomerang progressed with maximum points to meet FC Shakhtar Donetsk over two legs in March. Benfica, meanwhile, must now concentrate on their Portuguese league campaign, as they currently lie fourth.



Courtesy: UEFA


Kairat recovery overwhelms Morlanwelz

Wednesday, 1 February 2006

by Rui Matos Pereira

from Pavilhão da Luz

Kazakhstan champions Kairat Almaty came from behind to brush aside Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz in their concluding UEFA Futsal Cup second qualifying round Group A fixture in Lisbon - and two hours later learned that they were through to the semi-finals.

Comeback win
Aloízio broke the deadlock on seven minutes after Morlanwelz had soaked up some early pressure, but two strikes right before half-time from Aleksandr Terentyev and a Roberto own goal, saw Kairat go into the interval with a deserved advantage. Etienne, Cacau and Neto then scored three unanswered second-half goals and the Kazakh side progressed to a two legged encounter with MFK Dinamo Moskva in March after group winners Boomerang Interviú defeated SL Benfica 4-2 in the night's later fixture.

Aloizio opener
Kairat knew victory would leave them favourites to reach the last four and they clearly started with this in mind as they took the game to Morlanwelz from the kick-off. Etienne looked particularly threatening, and clipped the post with a fierce effort early on, but it was Aloízio who opened the scoring when he applied the finishing touch to a flowing counterattack, firing a powerful shot into the top corner.

Defensive blunders
Kairat quickly regained the initiative, however, and Neto, Yuriy Butrin and Terentyev all went close before they equalised in fortuitous fashion when Cacau's right-sided corner was headed into his own net by Roberto, just two minutes before the interval. Within 60 seconds a defensive error allowed Terentyev to complete the turnaround and from then on Kairat did not look back as they restricted the Belgium outfit to hopeful long shots.

One-sided scoreline
Gustavo was in fine fettle though and never looked like being beaten before Etienne gave the Kazakh side a two-goal cushion with 14 minutes remaining. Cacau made it 4-1 on 35 minutes before Neto completed an emphatic win in added time.



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