Courtesy: UEFA.com


Nielsen sparks Skövde elation

Sunday 19 August 2007

A last-minute Oskar Nielsen goal sent Skövde AIK through from the UEFA Futsal Cup Preliminary round for the second time in two entries and completed the Main round lineup for next month.

Comeback
Staging Group E in Sweden, Skövde trailed MNK Kaskada Graèanica prior to their deciding fixture and things began well for the champions of Bosnia-Herzegovina when Muamer Oruèeviæ put them ahead in the second minute. The score remained the same until the 31st minute when Johny David levelled matters, but Skövde still needed another goal and it arrived in the nick of time from Nielsen. Skövde now go to the Czech Republic for Main round Group 6 where KMF Marbo Beograd, hosts FK Era-Pack Chudrim and Ilves FS Tampere of Finland await.

Municipium celebrations
The other mini-tournament completed tonight, Group B, had already produced its qualifier yesterday, and Montenegrin debutants KMF Municipium Casino Pljevlja celebrated their status with a 3-0 win against KS Ali Demi Tirana. French hosts Issy Futsal finished second as they overcame AGBU Ararat Nicosia. Also through from the Preliminary round before today were Israel's Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion, FC Camelot Chisinau of Moldova, Saturday's other qualifiers KMN Puntar from Slovenia and Politekhnik Yerevan, among whose opponents will be 2004 runners-up SL Benfica.

Elite round
The top two after the Main round will go into the Elite round draw on 18 September. Holders MFK Dinamo Moskva, their Russian rivals MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg, Spanish champions ElPozo Murcia FS and Kairat Almaty are seeded straight into that stage from 13-21 October with the group winners progressing to April's final four; the hosts are to be picked from among their number to follow in the footsteps of 2007 venue Murcia.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Futsal contenders eye Main chance

Monday 20 August 2007

The UEFA Futsal Cup finals moved one stage closer at the weekend as next month's Main round lineup was completed.

Six qualifiers
Israel's Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezioyn, inaugural Montenegrin representatives KMF Municipium Casino Plevlja, Moldovan champions FC Camelot Chisinau, Armenia's Politekhnik Yerevan, Skövde AIK from Sweden and Slovenian side KMN Puntar respectively topped the six Preliminary round groups over the last week. They now join 18 teams seeded into the second stage in another half dozen sections.

Contenders
Among teams now entering the competition are 2004 runners-up SL Benfica in Group 2 against Ukraine's SK Energia, Bulgarian hosts MFC Varna and Politekhnik. Poland's Clearex Chorzów, who were pipped to the final four by a last-gasp Action 21 Charleroi goal in 2006/07 will stage Group 1 against FC Mapid Minsk, KMF Alfa Parf Skopje and Ironi Rishon. Meanwhile Futsal Topsport Antwerpen, the team that beat former European champions Charleroi to the Belgian title and ended their run of never missing a UEFA Futsal Cup edition, play Hungarian hosts Futsal Club Gödöllõ, Athina '90 Athens and Municipum in Group 4.

Elite round
The top two teams from each Main round group will enter the Elite round draw on 18 September. Holders MFK Dinamo Moskva, their Russian rivals MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg, Spanish champions ElPozo Murcia FS and Kairat Almaty are seeded straight into that stage from 13-21 October with the group winners progressing to April's final four; the hosts are to be picked from among their number to follow in the footsteps of Murcia.



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