Courtesy: UEFA.com

Dinamo cheer but Charleroi fall

Tuesday, 29 May 2007

UEFA Futsal Cup holders MFK Dinamo Moskva clinched the Russian title at the weekend - but semi-finalists Action 21 Charleroi will miss out on Europe for the first time next season after losing the Belgian Championship play-off to Forcom Antwerpen Elite.

Convincing win
In contrast to recent campaigns, Dinamo were given a real run for their money to pick up their fifth straight league crown. MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg led for much of the season, yet a late surge took Dinamo, who lifted their first UEFA Futsal Cup last month, four points clear ahead of the weekend's final two fixtures. And although VIZ-Sinara defeated Mytischi Moscow Region 5-3, Dinamo streaked to a 13-1 success against MFK Politech St. Petersburg. Joan scored five goals and Tatu weighed in with a hat-trick.

Consolation
A day later Dinamo succumbed 8-5 to the same opposition, but the title was secure and coach Yuri Rudnev said: "We completed this arduous marathon with fierce competition from VIZ-Sinara. We won the UEFA Cup, and kept our heads until the final championship game. In short, in April, as planned, we hit peak form." There is consolation for Russian Cup winners VIZ-Sinara, who will enter the UEFA Futsal Cup as league runners-up thanks to Dinamo's automatic qualification as holders.

Charleroi pipped
However, Charleroi will not be there after losing their domestic championship for the first time in eight years. After coming to the brink of financial collapse in the summer, Charleroi rallied to land the Belgian Cup and Belgian Super Cup and reach the UEFA Futsal Cup final four. They also ended their regular league campaign in first place but after beating PB Morlanwelz to make the play-off final, Charleroi were matched with Antwerpen, a new nemesis.

Antwerpen debut
Charleroi had triumphed in the teams' two seasonal meetings yet lost the first final encounter 4-1, before a 9-5 away victory confirmed Antwerpen as champions - the upstarts having come from behind in both matches. However, one club at least will be in next term's UEFA Futsal Cup for the seventh time in seven editions after FC Iberia 2003 Tbilisi continued their monopoly of the Georgian title.

Spanish play-offs
As for the other two UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finalists - runners-up Boomerang Interviú and bronze-medallists ElPozo Murcia FS - they are involved in the Spanish play-offs. Boomerang, who ended the regular season in top spot, are into the semi-finals after overcoming Carnicer Torrejón FS 8-4 and 4-2. They next take on Benicarló Onda Urbana FS or MRA Navarra FS. Murcia must play Caja Segovia in a home decider on Saturday as, despite a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win following a 4-4 draw in the first match, ElPozo lost 4-3 in the second encounter. Polaris World Cartagena FS await the eventual victor.





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