Courtesy: UEFA.com


Dinamo have edge on Ekaterinburg

Wednesday 6 February 2008

by Eduard Nisenboim from Moscow

UEFA Futsal Cup holders MFK Dinamo Moskva laid down an important marker ahead of April's final four on home territory with a win and a draw from their two-game Russian league series against fellow European contenders MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg.

Dinamo stretch lead
Last season's Russian runners-up Ekaterinburg trailed their unbeaten rivals by ten points before kick-off meaning they could not afford any slip-ups. But although they matched Dinamo all the way in the first game, they lost 3-2 and the second encounter was drawn 2-2 meaning Ekaterinburg further behind second-placed TTG-JAVA Yugorsk, who are six points adrift of the leaders before their trip to Moscow next weekend.

'Unforced errors'
The opening game was tight, but slips in the home defence allowed Cirilo and Pelé Junior to strike in quick succession and although Konstantin Agapov pulled one back before the break, Pavel Kobzar made it 3-1 with seven minutes left. Vladislav Shayakhmetov reduced arrears but Agapov missed a late chance to equalise. "The match itself was quite interesting," said Ekaterinburg coach Sergey Skorovich. "There were mistakes as well as good moments. It always hurts when you lose, especially when you concede goals after unforced errors. It was us who created Dinamo's second goal. The same thing happened with the last one, Pavel Kobzar's shot wasn't strong enough, but it flew just into the middle of the net."

Rudnev satisfied
In the second match Dinamo led twice but were happy to take a fourth point back to the capital. Pelé struck in only the second minute but Shayakhmetov immediately restored parity. Sergei Ivanov made it 2-1 to Dinamo at the break only for Shayakhmetov to again level with five minutes to go. Dinamo coach Yuri Rudnev said: "The game today was more tactical but I think that VIZ-Sinara were unable to force us to play at their pace even though they usually do. We stuck to our game. I'm certainly satisfied by the aggregate result of our visit to Ekaterinburg and I'm pleased with the teamwork and discipline of my players."

Contenders in form
Dinamo and Ekaterinburg will join Kairat Almaty and ElPozo Murcia in the semi-final draw on 6 March, with the event taking place from 25-27 April at Moscow's Krylatskoe Sport Palace. Both the non-Russian contenders currently lead their domestic championships; Kairat won 7-1 and 4-3 at Cementnik Semey this week to stay three points ahead of unbeaten Aktobe BTA while Murcia's 2-1 weekend victory at struggling Leis Pontevedra FS and 7-2 success against Móstoles 2008 last night extended their División de Honor lead over Interviú Fadesa to seven points, though the Spanish title is decided by end of season play-offs.





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