Courtesy: UEFA.com


Murcia aim at Spanish succession

Monday, 27 November 2006

by Lucy Turner

from Barcelona

With the Elite round of the UEFA Futsal Cup taking place from next Monday, uefa.com is having a closer look at each of the 16 sides involved. Today we begin our Group D profiles with a look at top seeds El Pozo Murcia FS, who meet 2005/06 semi-finalists Kairat Almaty, FC Dorozhnik Minsk and Hungarian hosts Futsal Club Gödöllö.

Spanish domination
Spain are, of course, the dominant force in this competition - only once in the five editions to date have they not produced the champion, Playas de Castellón FS and current holders Boomerang Interviú both lifting the trophy twice. And Murcia are well placed to follow in their footsteps having won the Spanish title last season, meaning the end of Boomerang's four-year reign.

Honours
El Pozo were founded in 1986 after a merger of two futsal clubs based in the city and in 1989/90 were involved in the inaugural División de Honor. Runners-up in 1991/92, Murcia won the Copa de España three years later, then the Spanish Super Cup and finally, fielding the likes of Spanish international Paulo Roberto Marques - now club sporting director - the league title was claimed in 1997/98. Another cup triumph followed with a 5-1 defeat of Boomerang in 2003 and that October Murcia hosted the unofficial Recopa de Europa - futsal's cup winners' cup - defeating Portugal's AR Freixieiro 7-3 in the final.

European bow
That season Murcia lost to Boomerang in the league play-off final, but as the Madrid club also won the UEFA Futsal Cup, El Pozo were able to make their debut in the official European competition. They strolled through the first qualifying round, 10-1 defeats of AGBU Ararat Nicosia FC and FC Marlène sandwiching a 5-2 win against MNK Karaka Mostar in a mini-tournament played at the Amsterdam ArenA. A Murcia-Boomerang final was now a possibility, but both were to fall in the next stage, El Pozo losing a dramatic match 5-4 to hosts MFK Dinamo Moskva meaning 8-0 wins against Dorozhnik and FK Shakhtar Donetsk were in vain.

League triumph
Murcia were now established as Boomerang's main rivals, their 2004/05 play-off final defeat their third in a row by the capital club. Finally in 2005/06 Murcia were crowned champions, as having finished top of the league table they then won through to the play-off final to meet Polaris World Cartagena, who had ousted Boomerang in the semis. El Pozo lost the first game of the five-match series 7-3 at home after extra time, but followed a 5-2 victory with a 3-2 triumph in the first away encounter. Cartagena then won 3-2, but Murcia claimed the championship with a 4-2 success in front of their own fans at the Pabellón Príncipe de Asturias. Brazilian coach Eduardo Sao Thiago Lentz 'Duda', in charge since 2001, promptly extended his contract until 2010.

Kairat danger
This term things have a familiar look, with Murcia in second, two points behind Boomerang where they drew 3-3 in October. Brazilian international Maurício arrived to boost a squad built around his compatriot Vinicius, Miguel Ángel Cobeta and Spain star Kike. Looking to the Budapest mini-tournament, Duda said: "I am happy with the draw although now we have to take those good vibes and display them on the pitch. I consider Kairat Almaty the toughest rivals in the group because they have good Brazilians in their squad."



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