Courtesy: UEFA.com


Murcia still in Spanish running

Monday 4 June 2007

UEFA Futsal Cup final bronze-medallists ElPozo Murcia FS can still return to the competition next season after joining two-time European champions Boomerang Interviú in the División de Honor play-off semi-finals.

Murcia through
Boomerang, who lost the UEFA Futsal Cup final to MFK Dinamo Moskva in April but finished the Spanish regular season in first place, had already secured their progress with 8-4 and 4-2 wins against Carnicer Torrejón FS. But Murcia's series against Caja Segovia stood at 1-1, ElPozo having won on penalties at home then lost 4-3 away, so they needed victory at their Palacio de Deportes arena to go through. Although Murcia fell behind on 12 minutes to Guga, Vinicius equalised and Kike clinched a 2-1 victory with two minutes left.

Semi-finals
Reigning league champions ElPozo now take on regular season runners-up Polaris World Cartagena FS, who stage the first match on Thursday before the second game in Murcia two days later. If needed, the decider will be in Cartagena a week later. Boomerang, meanwhile meet Benicarló Onda Urbana FS, and are at home first in three days' time.

Portuguese play-offs
Portugal's play-offs are also at the semi-final stage. Reigning champions Sporting Clube de Portugal need to win twice at Fundação JA next weekend after losing 5-1 at home in the opening match. However, 2004 UEFA Futsal Cup finalists SL Benfica, who finished top of the regular season table, won 5-3 at AR Freixiero and one win in two home games would take them to the decider.

Lvov success
Elsewhere in Europe, more teams from major nations that will be involved in the 2007/08 UEFA Futsal Cup are emerging. Energy Lvov have already deprived FC Shakhtar Donetsk of the Ukrainian title, while Luparense C/5 have clinched the Italian championship. Holders Dinamo will be back along with Russian runners-up MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg, while Forcom Antwerpen 2000 pipped previously ever-present Action 21 Charleroi to represent Belgium.

Calendar
The draw for the preliminary and Main rounds will be held on 2 July at 13.30 CET in Nyon. The first stage is from 11 to 19 August and the second phase from 8 to 16 September. The top four seeds will join the 12 qualifiers in the Elite round draw on 18 September, with the games played from 13-21 October to decide the entrants for next spring's final-four event.




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