Courtesy: UEFA.com

Boomerang clinch their place

Sunday, 10 December 2006

Boomerang Interviú's defence of the UEFA Futsal Cup will go on into April's final four event after they saw off the challenge of Elite round Group A hosts Arzignano Grifo C/5 in Verona.

Point needed
Both of these teams had defeated CC LKW Jistebnik and MNK Split on Thursday and Friday, but Boomerang had a goal difference advantage before today's decider. They only needed a draw, but Boomerang looked good for a win when Marquinho and Schumacher made it 2-0 on the three-minute mark. Fernando Wilhelm pulled on back in the tenth minute but Gabriel restored a two-goal advantage early in the second half.

Success ensured
With five minutes left Andrea Piccinini gave Arzignano hope, but Joan and Marquinho then scored to give Boomerang a 5-2 victory and a place in the final four from 26-28 April alongside the team they beat to win the trophy last season, MFK Dinamo Moskva, the club that deposed them as European champions in 2004/05, Action 21 Charleroi, and the side that took their Spanish title this summer, El Pozo Murcia FS. The venue will be selected in January, and the semi-final draw made in March, with Boomerang seeking to become the first three-time winners.

Split win
Third place in Group A went to Split, who defeated Jistebnik 5-1. Frane Despotovic, Marko Brcic and Zanata scored in a five-minute first-half spell and Ivica Osibov made it four on 23 minutes. Vít Blažej pulled one back but Marko Brèiæ had the last word.




Courtesy: UEFA.com

Charleroi leave it late to qualify

Friday, 8 December 2006

Two goals in the last three minutes gave Action 21 Charleroi a 3-3 draw that allowed them to pip UEFA Futsal Cup hosts Clearex Chorzów to the final four.

Andre saves Charleroi
Charleroi, European champions in 2004/05, lead Chorzów on goal difference at kick-off, meaning the home side needed a win in front of 1,800 fans at the Hala MORIS. It began well for Chorzów as Krzysztof Kusia struck on eleven minutes and Krzysztof Marzec added another soon after. On the stroke of half-time Jhonny Van Melkebeke pulled on back but when Andrzej Szlapa made it 3-1 in the 37th minute, it seemed Charleroi - who nearly went under with financial problems this summer - were out. But instantly Zico reduced arrears and with one minute left Andre equalised to give Charleroi the point they needed.

Beograd consolation
It was a tough blow for Chorzów, who against Araz Naxçivan on Matchday 1 also led 3-1 late on, with Marzec and Kusia on target, only to concede twice. Charleroi, meanwhile, had repeated the trick of their title-winning season, when the Belgian side struck a last-gasp equaliser to edge past Boomerang Interviú to reach the final. In the earlier match, neither Araz nor KMF Marbo Beograd could qualify but the consolation of third place went to the Serbian club. Rizvan Farzaliyev gave Araz a tenth-minute lead but late in the first half Zoran Dimiæ and Borko Surudžiè turned the game on its head and Igor Šošo clinched victory with three minutes left.

Holders in control
Boomerang are one point from joining Charleroi, MFK Dinamo Moskva and El Pozo Murcia FS in the final four after a 6-0 defeat of MNK Split in Group A in Verona. Julio, Marquinho and Gabriel struck in the first half and Schumacher, Marquinho and Edgar Bertoni extended the lead after the break. The holders now have a Sunday showdown with Italian hosts Arzignano Grifo C/5, who also secured their second win but trail Boomerang on goal difference as they beat Czech champions CC LKW Jistebnik 3-2. Danilo scored on 14 and 22 minutes to put Arzignano in control but Marcal Ziga and René Kovarik drew the scores level. With three minutes left, though, Danilo completed his hat-trick to confirm the result.



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