Courtesy: FIFA.com

Boomerang looks to come back strongly

(FIFA.com) 09 Mar 2006

The heat is on in the race for the UEFA Futsal Cup with just four teams still in with a chance of lifting the trophy. Boomerang Interviú and Dinamo Moskva start out as favourites in their respective semi-final ties against Ukrainian side Shakhtar and Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty. The first legs take place between 9 and 11 March, with the return fixtures scheduled for later this month.
The four sides successfully negotiated the eight-team second qualifying round, which took the form of two round-robin group stages, played from 29 January to 1 February in the Pavilhão da Luz in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.

The Spanish side, winners of the title in 2004, stormed through from Group A with three wins from three games. Boomerang got off to the best possible start with a thumping 11-0 win over Morlanwelz, before striding to a 5-2 win over Kairat and a 4-2 victory over Benfica, their opponents from the 2004 final.

Currently lying second in the Spanish league, Boomerang have made Europe their top priority this season. "That's our goal, and we're raring to go and full of confidence going into this game," Jesús Candelas, coach of the Madrid-based side, told FIFA.com.

Their semi-final opponents Shakhtar will hold few surprises for Candelas' side. "We faced them two years ago. They're a very tricky, tough and combative side who always keep going right until the end. They've got a great keeper and some of their new signings worry me. They're dangerous on the break and organise their changeovers very well," explained the Spanish coach. "Given all that, we'll have to be focused and in the right frame of mind for the game in order to ensure a good first-leg result."

Their Ukrainian rivals come into the tie in buoyant mood, having qualified from Group B at the expense of last season's winners Charleroi. Shakhtar inflicted a painful 4-1 defeat on the Belgian side, leaving the reigning champions in disarray. Then came Dinamo Moskva to put the final nail in the Charleroi coffin and gain sweet revenge for their defeat in last year's final.

Dinamo, currently leading their domestic league, are desperate for the chance to make amends following the heartache of last year's 10-9 extra-time defeat.

The second round saw the Moscow-based side sneak a 1-0 win over Shakhtar to secure first place in Group B and a semi-final match up against this year's surprise package, Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty. Kairat made it through ahead of Portuguese side Benfica, who were unable to make home advantage count as they struggled to two draws and one defeat from their three games. Kairat are well clear of their rivals in the Kazakstani league and are keen to cap a fantastic season with European success.

Semi-final match schedule:

First Leg
9/03/2006 Kairat Almaty - Dinamo Moskva
11/02/2006 Shakhtar - Boomerang Interviu

Second Leg
24/03/2006 Dinamo Moskva - Kairat Almaty
25/03/2006 Boomerang Interviu - Shakhtar



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