Courtesy: UEFA.com

Dinamo lose Russian futsal lead

Monday, 26 March 2007

by Paul Saffer

UEFA Futsal Cup 'final four' contenders MFK Dinamo Moskva slipped up this weekend to lose the outright lead in the Russian league.

Level pegging
In the first match of a double-header at mid-table MFK CSKA Moskva, Dinamo were held 4-4, with goals in the last seven minutes from Joan and Tatu salvaging a draw for the visitors. A day later, they prevailed 3-1 against their neighbours, Cirilo striking twice and Tatu adding a third after CSKA pulled one back. But as MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg beat MFK Spartak Moskva 4-3 and 4-2 on their trip to the capital, they are now level with Dinamo on 76 points, through the champions have two games in hand.

Cup encounters
Fixtures resume in the league on 7/8 April, when Dinamo welcome third-placed TTG-Java Yugorsk, who are ten points behind, while VIZ-Sinara host CSKA, currently sixth. Before that however, on 1 April, Dinamo are in Ekaterinburg for the first leg of the Russian Futsal Cup final. The return in Moscow is on 14 April, 12 days before Dinamo take on Action 21 Charleroi in the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals in Murcia.

Charleroi delight
Charleroi themselves claimed a 5-2 win at FP Houthalen Genk, Karim Chaibai netting a hat-trick. Action 21 are up to second as they overtook PB Morlanwelz, beaten 8-1 at home by Brussels United Futsal, sitting just two points behind leaders Forcom Antwerpen Elite, who succumbed 4-2 at Minicup Lommel VZW. Charleroi now prepare for Friday's Belgium Cup quarter-final at CP Hasselt.

Spanish rivals slip
In Spain, UEFA Futsal Cup semi-final rivals Boomerang Interviú and El Pozo Murcia FS both lost on Saturday. Boomerang, fresh from defeating Murcia to lift the Spanish Futsal Cup last week, went down 4-3 at home to Carnicer Torrejón FS. Murcia could have closed the three-point gap but fell 6-4 at lowly UD Gestesa Guadalajara FS, allowing Polaris World Cartagena FS to join them on 46 points as they ousted Martorell FS 3-0. However, unlike in Russia, the Spanish title is decided by an eight team end-of-season play-off.



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