Courtesy: UEFA.com


Boomerang back for second success

Wednesday, 27 December 2006

by Paul Saffer

Spain's monopoly of the UEFA Futsal Cup was finally ended in the fourth edition of 2004/05 by Action 21 Charleroi. Boomerang Interviú, who Charleroi had deposed the round before defeating MFK Dinamo Moskva to lift the trophy, ensured normal service was resumed in 2005/06.

Holders out
There were few surprises before eight teams took their places in the second qualifying round in January, with a new semi-final round meaning that second position would not be fatal in either group. However, that was not enough to spare Charleroi, who having lost key players since their final victory the previous April began Group B in Belgrade with a 4-1 loss to FC Shakhtar Donetsk. A 5-3 defeat by Dinamo - who were to go through with Shakhtar - ensured Charleroi's 3-2 win against KMF Marbo Beograd was only a consolation. Boomerang soared through Group A in Lisbon, scoring 20 goals in three victories, but the team they defeated in the 2004 final, hosts SL Benfica, were held by Kairat Almaty and Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz, meaning the team from Kazakhstan progressed when they defeated the Belgian side 5-1.

Schumacher treble
The semi-finals went to form; Dinamo downed Kairat 8-2 on aggregate and Boomerang saw off Shakhtar 11-4 overall. And just as the year before, the two-legged decider in April was a high-scoring affair. Boomerang hosted the first leg, as they did in 2004 against Benfica, and again won by a three-goal margin. Gabriel's early goal was cancelled out by Sirilo and after Schumacher struck, Pelé and Sergei Malyshev gave Dinamo the lead. Before the break, though Daniel and Schumacher ensured another twist and Marquinho extended the advantage with nine minutes left. Schumacher completed his hat-trick at the death, and vowed to uefa.com "I know I did a good job, and the team did a good job. Now we have to get the cup in Moscow."

Boomerang hold on
They did so, but not without a few scares in a match almost as exciting as the classic second leg at the Druzhba between Dinamo and Charleroi 12 months earlier. Sirilo gave Dinamo hope on eight minutes but Julio swiftly equaliser and there was no more scoring until the last four minutes, when the home side removed goalkeeper Pavel Stepanov for a fifth attacker. Joan ended the long wait for a goal only for Daniel to find the target within seconds, and although Konstantin Maevski and Tatu brought Dinamo to within one goal of victory, Neto struck from inside his own half to ensure a 9-7 aggregate triumph for Boomerang, matching Playas de Castellón FS's mark of two European titles. Jesús Candelas, the coach on both occasions, mused: "It is very hard to wipe out a three-goal deficit, especially when you are playing against strong opponents."



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