Courtesy: UEFA.com

Rudnev credits Charleroi effort

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Murcia

Fresh from leading MFK Dinamo Moskva to Saturday's UEFA Futsal Cup final against Boomerang Interviú in Murcia, Yuri Rudnev immediately praised defeated Action 21 Charleroi coach Christian Vavadio, whose young team put up a tremendous effort but conceded goals at the start and the end of the second half to lose 3-1. Vavadio was certainly not disheartened but bemoaned the injury absence of the experienced André Vanderlei.

Yuri Rudnev, MFK Dinamo Moskva coach
We have faced strong foes today. If I was Charleroi's coach, I would be very happy with my players. They have played very well. They have adapted very well to the pitch. Their goalkeeper has done a great job, but also our goalkeeper saved us on several occasions. I’m very happy to reach the final. Tomorrow we will analyse this game to make the right conclusions.

Christian Vavadio, Action 21 Charleroi coach
We always hope to win. Unfortunately, we've faced a very good team today. We couldn't match them. We did not have all our players fit while they had 12 experienced players on the court. We have conceded two goals on the counterattack. However, I'm very proud of my players. They have done their best and I can't blame them.


Courtesy: UEFA.com

Finalist Candelas consoles Murcia

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Murcia

Boomerang Interviú coach Jesús Candelas may have led his side past Spanish rivals ElPozo Murcia in a dramatic UEFA Futsal Cup semi-final to take their defence of the trophy into a Saturday decider against MFK Dinamo Moskva, but he was keeping his emotions in check as he sympathised with his opposite number Duda. Final four hosts Murcia led 2-1 with two minutes left and lost to a last-second Daniel goal, but Duda admitted that he felt Boomerang deserved the result.

Duda, ElPozo Murcia FS coach
First of all I congratulate Interviú on their victory, especially because they know how to win! We all know Jesús, and we all respect his politeness. He has won many times, and always found a way. It is bad luck that they have always been in our way! What hurts is not the last-second goal, what hurts is just to lose. Tomorrow it will be a different day and different feelings; tonight the feeling is frustration. We may be discussing this late goal, but they deserved to win. Boomerang had more possession, as they are better at keeping the ball. Both teams had their defences quite deep and kept up the pressure in the midfield. All that pressure meant there were fewer chances.

Jesús Candelas, Boomerang Interviú coach
There is a factor called luck, and tonight it was with us. Murcia had as many chances as us to be the finalists. I want to encourage Duda, because he is one of these people from who I still learn in my sport. There are no words of consolation for him, there has to be a winner and a loser. My sincere congratulations to him. I would have liked to have played better tonight but in front of us we had opponents who did not allow us to play our usual game. We have cleared a big obstacle in our way to this title. I respect Duda a lot and that is why I am not showing all my feelings here now, he is also my friend. It is hard to lose this way, especially as they have staged this tournament and the organisation has been the best.




Courtesy: UEFA.com

Dinamo set up final rematch

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Palacio de Deportes de Murcia

Pavel Kobzar and Kelson struck second half goals to send MFK Dinamo Moskva into their third straight UEFA Futsal Cup final but only after overcoming stubborn Action 21 Charleroi in Murcia.

Dinamo prevail
In the opening match of the new one-venue final four event, Dinamo took an early lead through Pula but were pegged back by Charleroi captain Karim Chaibai's solo effort. Dinamo edged back ahead soon after half-time but Charleroi's young lineup, without injured inspiration André Vanderlei, kept battling until conceding again late on. Dinamo meet Boomerang Interviú in Saturday's final, just as in 2006, while Charleroi have a third-place encounter with hosts ElPozo Murcia FS.

Early goal
Although the first shot on goal came from Charleroi's Zico, it was Dinamo's Brazilian born players that were expected to dominate. Within a minute Charleroi goalkeeper Eder Fehrmann denied Pelé and Sirilo, while Tatu also went close. In the fifth minute, however, the breakthrough came as Sirilo broke from deep and fed Pula, who shot hard into Fehrmann's right-hand corner.

Charleroi level
Urged on by their outnumbered but enthusiastic fans, Charleroi found an equaliser against the run of play just after the midway point of the half as Chaibai tricked his way past a defender and hit his shot with emphatic precision.

Jhonny close
That seemed to wake Dinamo up and some neat footwork by Tatu was followed by a drive that Fehrmann did well to turn over. Konstantin Maevski then forced the Charleroi custodian into another save before Belgian champions nearly produced a sucker punch, breaking only for Jhonny Van Melkebeke to be denied by the alert Stepanov. The same man then fired over an unguarded net as Charleroi finished the half in confident fashion.

Kobzar goal
Dinamo regrouped in the interval, however, and within 100 seconds were back ahead. Konstantin Maevski had already forced one save from Fehrmann when he drew the goalkeeper and laid off for Kobzar to place the ball into the net. Dinamo were now motoring and after useful work by ex-Charleroi man Kelson, Tatu drove wide.

Tatu efforts
A Saad Salhi interception set Charleroi captain Lúcio Rosa away but he was denied by Stepanov, who was also forced to save from Jonathan Fosse. Most of the play was at the other end though with Tatu twice going close, before Charleroi hit back with Chaibai’s shot deflected over and Zico’s attempt kicked round the post by Stepanov. In a swift counterattack, Dinamo’s Kelson was then thwarted by Fehrmann, who was also tested twice at his near post by Tatu.

Two enough
Pula was next to try his luck but the Charleroi goalkeeper produced an acrobatic stop and before keeping out a Pelé strike, while Zico then put his body between Tatu and the goal. Dinamo always looked the more likely to score, and after Tatu hit the crossbar he engaged in a neat one-two with Kelson who tapped in the end the hopes of his former club.




Courtesy: UEFA.com

Daniel takes Boomerang through

Thursday, 26 April 2007

by Paul Saffer

from Palacio de Deportes de Murcia

Daniel pounced with just one second remaining to take the UEFA Futsal Cup holders Boomerang Interviú past final four hosts and Spanish rivals ElPozo Murcia FS and set up a rematch of the 2006 decider with MFK Dinamo Moskva on Saturday.

Dramatic end
Murcia led early through Kike but Boomerang swiftly levelled with a Marquinho strike. ElPozo, who had not lost at home all season, were ahead again late on as Vinicius Bacaro struck but Schumacher scored a timely equaliser and Daniel was on hand to turn in a parried Neto effort at the death.

Kike strike
After the home crowd had been stirred by a ceremonial kick-off from the robed queen of last week's Bando de la Huerta festival, Murcia roared out of the blocks. On 65 seconds Boomerang goalkeeper Luis Amado was forced to save as Vinicius Elías connected with Kike's cross. Daniel then blocked a Fran Serrejón shot but the resulting corner was played by Vinicius to Kike on the edge of the box and he beat his Spanish international team-mate with a fine low finish.

Swift equaliser
Boomerang were swift to respond, and after Gabriel, Neto and Schumacher had all gone close, on five minutes they were level. Gabriel exchanged passes on the right with Marquinho, who expertly found a way past Juanjo at his near post.

Joan efforts
Murcia were nearly back in front when Alvaro found Bacaro in space in front of goal, but his shot was just wide. At the other end Edgar Bertoni went close with a vicious effort while Mauricio surged forward on a quick break but Luis Amado tipped away his rising strike. Joan then struck the woodwork before heading a Neto cross over from point-blank range, while Murcia also created another chance before the break as Joel Queirós drove just past the post.

Lead restored
Having been forced to withstand late pressure in the first half, Murcia applied some of their own after the restart though without troubling Luis Amado to any great extent. That was at least until the 26th minute when Joel Queirós's shot forced Luis Amada to dive and save. As the second period wore on space was at a premium, but Marquinho was unlucky not to turn in a Schumacher pass and Luis Amada was again alert to stop a good combination between Bacaro and Cobeta with six minutes left. Seconds later, though, those two combined to perfection; Cobeta squaring for Bacaro to turn in.

Boomerang comeback
Kike showed his defensive abilities soon after to stop a swift Boomerang break to the delight of the home bench, and Juanjo dived and saved Schumacher's powerful effort. The holders sensed their dream of a record third European crown fading, and Daniel forced a superb Juanjo stop before reliable Brazilian turned in Gabriel's cross with two minutes remaining. Extra time seemed inevitable, but when Juanjo parried Neto's shot, Daniel ensured the most dramatic of finishes.



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