Courtesy: UEFA.com

Spanish showdown in futsal semis

Saturday, 10 March 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Murcia

UEFA Futsal Cup holders Boomerang Interviú will take on final four hosts El Pozo Murcia in an all-Spanish semi-final after the draw was made today in Murcia.

2005 final rematch
Action 21 Charleroi play two-time runners-up MFK Dinamo Moskva in the other tie on 26 April, a rematch of the thrilling 2004/05 final won by the Belgium team 10-9 on aggregate after extra time. The final and third-place play-off take place two days later in a new one-venue format and for the first time the four decisive UEFA Futsal Cup ties will be shown live by Eurosport.

Murcia hold Boomerang
All games are to take place in the 7,500-capacity Palacio de los Deportes, where Murcia welcomed two-time European champions Boomerang today for a top-of-the-table league match and played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. Reigning Spanish champions Murcia made a bright start, Fran Serrejón hitting the frame of the goal and Boomerang keeper Luis Amado denying Bacaro early on. But Boomerang began to take control, Schumacher running things from the middle, and they went ahead on ten minutes after Neto made a strong turn and run and laid off for Marquinho to cross for Joan to tap in. The visitors seemed set to go in ahead at the break, but with less than two minutes left to the interval Bacaro’s fine finish levelled matters.

Last-gasp equaliser
The away side restored their lead seven minutes into the second half as Edgar Bertoni found the net from a seemingly impossible angle, and the same player then cleared off the line after a Murcia free-kick. Schumacher then struck from wide on the right, Juanjo in the Murcia goal getting a touch but unable to save, though he did then keep his side in the game with a last-gasp stop from Daniel. With 87 seconds left, Joel gave the home team hope with an angled finish, and in the last minute Boomerang had Daniel sent off. It was a frantic finish, and 9.38 seconds remained when Kike slotted in a dramatic equaliser to prevent a sixth consecutive home defeat by Boomerang - a happy finale to coach Duda’s 250th game in charge of El Pozo.

Spanish domination
Boomerang remain three points ahead of Murcia at the top of the Spanish table, but each team’s position make them safe bets to reach the eight-team play-offs for the national title at the end of the season, when the top eight teams participate in a knockout competition. Spain has dominated the UEFA Futsal Cup, with Playas de Castellón winning the inaugural editions in 2001/02 and 2002/03, and Boomerang succeeding in 2003/04 and last term. Today's draw means that nation will again have a team in the final.

UEFA Futsal Cup final four schedule

Thu 26 April Semi-final A
MFK Dinamo Moskva (RUS) vs Action 21 Charleroi (BEL) 18.30

Thu 26 April Semi-final B
El Pozo Murcia FS (ESP) vs Boomerang Interviú (ESP) 21.00

Sat 28 Apri Third-place play-off
Loser semi-final A vs Loser semi-final B 17.00

Sat 28 April Final Winner semi-final A vs Winner semi-final B 19.00

All kick-off times CET



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