Courtesy: FIFA.com


Boomerang cling on for second European crown

(FIFA.com) 09 May 2006

A 6-3 cushion from the first leg proved comfortable enough for Boomerang Interviu as they held on to win their second UEFA Futsal Cup title despite slumping to a 4-3 second-leg defeat by Dinamo Moskva in the Russian capital. The Moscow-based side - beaten by Belgian outfit Charleroi in last year's final - might, however, have gone one better had it not been for an inspired performance by Boomerang keeper Rafa.
Jesus Candelas, coach of La Máquina Verde (The Green Machine), was fulsome in his praise of the beaten Russian outfit. "Dinamo are the best team that we've faced in the last four years," he said. "I thought that we'd have the upper hand when they switched their keeper for a fifth outfield player, but they knew how to make it work and use it to their advantage."

Even so, Candelas was surprised by Dinamo's lack of intensity at crucial phases in the game, a crucial factor in ensuring Boomerang were able to hold on for ultimate victory. The Spaniards' coach, meanwhile, became the most successful coach in the country's futsal history with the victory, and admitted afterwards: "You never get tired of winning. I suppose the team will have to stop somewhere, but it always depends on your opponents."

Roared on by a partisan crowd in the Druzhba Arena, the home team stormed into an early lead through Sirilo, only for Boomerang captain Julio to make it 1-1 on 12 minutes. The equaliser was a painful blow to Alexander Shibaev's charges, but they refused to let their heads drop, continuing to pile the pressure on a Spanish side seemingly content to sit back and hit their opponents on the break. Boomerang were also grateful for the intervention of their stand-in keeper, Rafa, who thwarted the Russian attackers time and time again.

The 36th minute saw the start of a crazy four-minute spell, with the two sides sharing five quick-fire goals. Dinamo went ahead through Joan, although within seconds Daniel had rifled in an equaliser for Boomerang. A two-goal burst from Maevski and Tatu then put the Russian side just one goal away from levelling the tie on aggregate with less than two minutes left on the clock. However, having sacrificed their goalkeeper for an extra outfield player, Dinamo paid the ultimate price for their all-out attacking strategy when Gabriel hit a spectacular lob from his own area into the home side's unguarded net.

Boomerang, UEFA Futsal Cup winners back in 2004, claimed the second trophy of a spectacular campaign to go with their recent Intercontinental Cup triumph. The Green Machine continued Spain's dominance of the prestigious competition, joining fellow Spaniards Playas de Castellon on two wins apiece. Belgian side Charleroi, last year's winners, remain the only non-Spanish team to win the title thus far.

Schumacher the star
Ultimately, it was a peerless first-leg performance from Brazilian maestro Schumacher that proved to be the difference between the two teams, with a hat-trick from the samba star sending his side on the road to aggregate victory.

In an action-packed first-leg on Spanish soil, last year's beaten finalists contributed fully to a thrilling exhibition of top-class futsal. Gabriel, Sirilo, Schumacher and Pele traded goals in a breathtaking opening 15 minutes, and Malyshev gave Dinamo a 3-2 lead with half-time fast approaching. However, a rapid-fire double strike from Daniel and Schumacher in the last minute of the first period turned the scoreline on its head, the home side going in 4-3 ahead at the break.

Dinamo Moskva continued to pour forward in the second half, but were unable to find a way past Rafa in the Spanish goal. Boomerang's reward for a resilient performance came nine minutes from time when Marquinho made it 5-3 to ease the home crowd's nerves. With the Russian side's morale in tatters, Schumacher made it six in the last minute, his third goal of the game eventually proving decisive in helping Boomerang back to the top of the European game.



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