Courtesy: UEFA.com

Ekaterinburg overcome Energia

Sunday 14 October 2007

MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg made a winning start on their UEFA Futsal Cup debut while CIP Deva also gained victory as the Elite round began on Sunday.

Narrow win
Ekaterinburg, Russian runners-up behind UEFA Futsal Cup winners MFK Dinamo Moskva last season, are staging Group D and had a tough start against Ukrainian champions SK Energia. They led 2-0 with 12 minutes gone through Konstantin Agapov and Makaev, but Sergii Yakunin pulled it back near the end to ensure a nervous finish. Home coach Sergey Skorovich said: "We started quite well and had a confident first half, and we deserved to benefit. In the second half Energia pressed more and we became complacent, and we were almost made to pay."

Deva success
Romanian champions Deva, who finished second in an Elite round group last season, also made the most of a good first half to overcome Israel's Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion 5-3. Hapoel, who began this competition in the Preliminary round, led on two minutes through Avi Kalif but Robert Florin Matei, Iacob Gabriel Molomfalean, Marian Sotirca and Ioan Al-iIani all struck for Deva to make it 4-1 at the break. Shai Zablotski pulled one back but Deva extended their lead, meaning Molomfelan's late own goal was only a Hapoel consolation.

Monday games
Deva take on Ekaterinburg in Monday's first game, and should the hosts win and Hapoel fail to defeat Energia, Viz-Sinara will take the one available place in the final four. Likewise, a Deva victory would seal their progress if Energia do not win. Two of the other three groups also start on Monday. In Group A in Poland, ElPozo Murcia FS play KMF Marbo Beograd and hosts Clearex Chorzów face Croatia's HMNK Gospiæ. Over in Group C, Czech hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim encounter Futsal Topsport Antwerpen and Kairat Almaty are up against Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava.




Courtesy: UEFA.com

Kairat accept favourites tag

Monday 15 October 2007

by Timur Kamashev

from Almaty

When Kairat Almaty reached the 2005/06 UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals, it was considered one of the finest ever performances by a team from Kazakhstan at any level. But this time around they are favourites to reach that stage as they begin Elite round Group C today against Czech hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim, Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava and Futsal Topsport Antwerpen.

Brazilian talent
Kairat, who were pipped in this round by ElPozo Murcia FS a year ago having lost in the last four to MFK Dinamo Moskva 12 months before, have a superb mix of home-grown and Brazilian talent. President Kairat Orazbekov has guided the club since their formation 12 years ago, and sets high standards. "We have a record of reaching the semi-final which is our best achievement so far," he said. "But we also aim to win every time and consider any other result a failure."

Positive approach
In order to move closer to the European crown, Kairat signed Brazilian goalkeeper Marcinho and the versatile Jadder Dantas, the latter joining from Italian champions Luparense Calcio A5. Brazilian coach Alecio said: "We have rich international experience so I do not think we will take a cautious approach in the Czech Republic. I think the teams in our group differ in class. The hosts have a good chance of progress but we are favourites. The others will be waiting for us to make mistakes so we will bank on keeping concentration."

Sluka signing
Chrudim won all their Main round games on home territory but have not rested on their laurels, signing Tomáš Sluka on loan from CC LKW Jistebník to take their tally of Czech internationals to seven. Sluka has been released by second division football club SFC Opava for this tournament and next month's UEFA European Futsal Championship and will link up with Czech legends Roman and Michal Mareš, who contributed six Main round goals between them. Coach Ota Stejskal, whose team have only previously met Bratislava, said: "I don't underestimate any opponents, but there are definitely more difficult groups. We lost both friendly games with [Bratislava] and I hope that we will finally win."

Confidence
Bratislava moved past their opening stage for the first time in three campaigns as they pipped Azerbaijan's Araz Naxçivan in the Main round, recovering from 3-1 down with five minutes to go to win 4-3. Coach Millan Kollár, who also leads the Slovakian national team, said: "Kairat Almaty are favourites for sure with some superb Brazilian players, but we will try to win. Last time we met Chrudim we won 4-2, so we have confidence."

Belgian threat
Antwerpen are making their European debut after depriving the previously ever-present Action 21 Charleroi of the Belgian title last season. They topped their Main round group and have made a good start to the domestic season with Karim Bachar and Karim Bali in good form, scoring five goals bertween them in a 7-1 win against the Belgian national team on 3 October. Club secretary Chris Peeters told uefa.com: "Reaching the last 16 is an achievement in itself, and we realise that the competition will get really tough now. Almaty are the favourites. They have a huge Brazilian influence, just like Action 21 Charleroi. We have beaten the latter three times in a row now, so we are also doing reasonably well. But it is going to be tough."


Additional reporting by Ladislav Josef, Rastislav Hribik & Berend Scholten




Courtesy: UEFA.com

Murcia fixed on more success

Monday 15 October 2007

by Lucy Turner & Elvir Islamovic

ElPozo Murcia were UEFA Futsal Cup bronze-medallists last season as the inaugural hosts of the new final four event. Spanish champions again, they go to Poland for Elite round Group A from tonight aiming for a return to the showpiece stage.

Reverse
To do so they must top a group hosted by Clearex Chorzów and also containing Croatia's HMNK Gospiæ and Murcia's opening opponents KMF Marbo Beograd of Serbia. Murcia relinquished their Spanish league lead on Friday as they lost 6-3 at home to MRA Navarra and FC Barcelona's 9-3 victory against Carnicer Torrejón FS a day later sent ElPozo down to third place with 12 points from six games. Still, Murcia have a team capable of winning Spain's fifth UEFA Futsal Cup in seven seasons with established stars like Kike and Álvaro added to this summer by Brazilian player Ciço and Spanish international Saúl on three-year deals. Sporting director Paulo Roberto said: "The team has to defend Spain’s European dominance and we will do all we can to win in the Elite round. The team is full of enthusiasm for the games in Poland because this trophy is important to us and to the city of Murcia."

Familiar foes
Whereas Murcia are entering at this stage, the other trio came through the Main round last month. Chorzów and Beograd are familiar foes having both been involved in an Elite round group here last season. On that occasion Chorzów beat Beograd 3-2 on Matchday 2 but then saw a two-goal lead against Action 21 Charleroi slip as the Belgian side came back for a draw that took them through on goal difference. Beograd finished a point behind the leading pair in third.

Progress
Chorzów came through a tight Main round group, again as hosts, beating KMF Alfa Parf Skopje 3-0 and Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion 3-1, meaning they could afford to lose 4-3 to FC Mapid Minsk and pip the Belarussian team in a three-way tie also involving the Israeli pool winners. Beograd defeated Skövde AIK 5-3 and Ilves FS Tasmpere 3-2 so were through even before their 4-1 loss to FK Era-Pack Chrudim.

Gospiæ ambition
Gospiæ had a similarly difficult passage, as having been held by Iberia 2003 Tbilisi and KMN Puntar, a 5-2 win against CIP Deva on the final day gave the Group 5 hosts first place. Owner and chairman Josip Vrkljan, whose investment has attracted the likes of Nikola Tomièiæ, Mile Simeunoviæ, Patrik Drndiæ and Brazilian duo Romário and Serginho, said: "We wanted to reach the Elite round and that's a success for us, but it's not over yet. ElPozo Murcia are clear favouritse in our group, but I think we can match Marbo Beograd and hosts Clearex. I am asking my players to win those matches. Lots of people come to watch us at every match. It's a kind of euphoria in the city. I hope we will make more progress."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ekaterinburg reach final four

Monday 15 October 2007

MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg are the first team through to the UEFA Futsal Cup's final four after results went their way on Matchday 2 in Elite round Group D.

Convincing win
The Russian side, hosting the group, beat SK Energia 2-1 on Sunday in their first-ever game in the competition and followed that today with a convincing 10-3 win against CIP Deva. As Romanian challengers Deva had defeated Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion on Matchday 1, Ekaterinburg knew that if the Israeli team failed to take maximum points in today's late kick-off against Energia from Ukraine, they would be guaranteed first place with a game to spare.

First place secure
In a tight first half, Energia – whose own hopes of progress had been ended by Ekaterinburg's victory – edged ahead on 14 minutes through Vitaliy Brunko. Shai Zablotski equalised seven minutes into the second period but Oleksandr Kondratyuk swiftly restored Energia's lead. Brunko then made it 3-1, and although Hapoel pulled one back, again within seconds Energia had responded through Andriy Parshykov. Hapoel reduced arrears to 4-3 in the closing seconds, but Energia's win was confirmed along with Ekaterinburg's advance to the four-team knockout finals from 24-26 April at a venue to be picked from the top teams in all four Elite round groups. To conclude this mini-tournament, Ekaterinburg will face Hapoel on Wednesday while Energia take on Deva for the consolation of second place; even if either side catches the hosts on six points, Viz-Sinara will hold a superior head-to-head record.

Murcia win
Meanwhile, two of the three other groups began today. Last season's final four hosts ElPozo Murcia FS made a useful start to their campaign in Group A with a 5-1 defeat of KMF Marbo Beograd. Wilde gave the Spanish champions an eighth-minute lead and Bacaro and Wilde both struck in the final seconds of the first half to put the 2006/07 bronze-medallists firmly in control. Wilde completed his hat-trick with six minutes left and although Zoran Dimić pulled one back, Ciço had the last word. In the second game Polish hosts Clearex Chorzów drew 3-3 with Croatia's HMNK Gospić. Sergio and Denis Ibrisimović both gave Gospić first-half leads only for Andrzej Szłapa and Krzysztof Marzec to respectively equalise. Nikola Tomicić made it 3-2 to Gospić on 31 minutes but within seconds Krzysztof Kusia had levelled again to the delight of the healthy home crowd. On Tuesday, Murcia face Gospić knowing a win would take them through if Chorzów cannot beat Beograd.

Kairat victory
In Group C in the Czech Republic, seeds Kairat Almaty began their European season with a 4-3 victory against Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava. Dinis Samohvalov and Cacau put Kairat in control in the first five minutes, Attila Fehervári pulled one back but Samohvalov made it 3-1 at half-time. Voitech Várady gave Bratislava hope with five minutes left but Aleksandr Terentyev swiftly doubled the lead again. Ladislav Mikita scored in the final seconds but Bratislava goalkeeper Mário Gašparovic then was sent off. Hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim are top as although Karim Bali gave Futsal Topsport Antwerpen a third-minute lead, Tomáš Šluka equalised before the break and Petr Popelka and Michal Mareš scored in the last eight minutes. On Wednesday Chrudim meet Bratislava and Kairat take on Antwerpen.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Murcia make swift progress

Tuesday 16 October 2007

ElPozo Murcia FS are through to the final four of the UEFA Futsal Cup after defeating HMNK Gospić 4-2 in Chorzow on Tuesday.

Murcia celebrate
The Spanish side opened their Group A Elite Round campaign in Poland with a 5-1 victory against KMF Marbo Beograd yesterday and now cannot be caught going into Thursday's final round of matches as in the section's other match Beograd defeated hosts Clearex Chorzów 2-1. Murcia, who play the Polish side on Thursday, return to the final four for the second successive year after finishing third as hosts.

Exciting Group C
There is still everything to play for in Group C which is being staged at the Zimní Stadión in the Czech Republic. On Tuesday hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim defeated Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava 5-1 and top seeds Kairat Almaty beat Futsal Topsport Antwerpen by the same scoreline. Chrudim and Kairat Almaty both have six points from their two games and which of them progresses to the final four will be decided when the two sides meet on Thursday with the hosts only needing a draw due to their superior goal difference. On Monday Russia's MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg became the first side to reach the final four which will be staged on 24-26 April 2008.



Courtesy: UEFA.com

Deva second behind Ekaterinburg

Wednesday 17 October 2007

MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg celebrated their progress to the UEFA Futsal Cup 'final four' with a 3-1 win against Hapoel Ironi Lezion to finish Elite round Group D with a perfect record, while CIP Deva clinched a consolatory second place against SK Energia.

Progress secure
The Russian hosts, in their first European mini-tournament, had already secured top spot with defeats of Ukraine's Energia and Romanian champions Deva. Hapoel knew they would come in fourth, but having advanced through the Preliminary and Main rounds they made a fine UEFA Futsal Cup bow and today's loss was a creditable end to their campaign.

Deva pip Energia
Deva, led by Romania coach Zoltán Jakab, needed a victory against Energia to repeat their finish in the 2006/07 Elite round, when they were second in a group behind a Russian team but ahead of Ukrainian representatives. Two late first-half goals from George Tomescu and Iacob Gabriel Molomfalean put Deva in control, and they were 4-0 up on 27 minutes thanks to two Gabriel Dobre efforts. Valeriy Legchanov struck twice to give Energia hope and with 44 seconds left Sergii Yakunin pulled it back to 4-3, yet Deva held on.

Two places to fill
Ekaterinburg and Spain's ElPozo Murcia FS are already confirmed in the final four from 24-26 April and a third qualifier will be known later on Thursday after Group C concludes, with Czech hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim requiring a draw to pip Kairat Almaty. Group B begins in Italy on Thursday too, with holders MFK Dinamo Moskva meeting KMF Municipium Casino Pljevlja of Montenegro and hosts Luparense Calcio A5 up against 2003/04 runners-up SL Benfica.



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