Courtesy: UEFA.com

Charleroi go top amid André scare

Thursday, 12 April 2007

UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finalists Action 21 Charleroi are back in their familiar position on top of the Belgian championship after an exciting 4-3 win at previous leaders Forcom Antwerpen Elite but there is now an injury scare over the inspirational André Vanderlei, who scored twice last night.

Recovery
Charleroi have won the last seven Belgian titles, in recent years finishing comfortably first in the regular season and then strolling througb the play-offs - last year beating Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz 13-4 on aggregate in the final. But their financial traumas in the summer weakened their squad and they have been in an unfamiliar position away from first place until the trip to Antwerp, when despite being without Liliu due to a knee injury Charleroi knew victory would take them a point clear of their rivals.

Charleroi hold on
Karim Bali gave the home side a fifth-minute lead but André swiftly equalised. On 12 minutes Jhonny Van Melkebeke edged Charleroi ahead and late in the first half André and Lúcio Rosa extended the advantage to 4-1. Abdellah Idlaasri and Bali reduced arrears to one goal with 12 minutes left. The result leaves Charleroi within one victory of effectively sealing their place in the four-team championship play-offs.

André concern
However, there was a late blow with an injury to André, who will undergo medical tests on Thursday on a suspected adductor tear in his hip. Both he and Liliu would be huge losses if they were to miss the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-final against MFK Dinamo Moskva in Murcia on 26 April. There is little rest for Charleroi now, who return to action on Friday at home to ONU Seraing and next Wednesday they take on MFK Real Châtelineau in the Belgian Cup semi-finals.



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