Courtesy: UEFA.com


Cirilo snatches dramatic Dinamo draw

Tuesday 18 March 2008

by Pavel Gognidze

MFK Dinamo Moskva remain unbeaten in 2007/08 after a last-gasp equaliser from Cirilo in the first leg of the Russian Cup final at MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg.

'Amazing game'
The two clubs will both play in the UEFA Futsal Cup final four in Moscow from 25-27 April and this match was the last meeting between them before then. Domestic cup holders Ekaterinburg beat European champions Dinamo on penalties last year and looked like holding the advantage for the return in Moscow on 15 May thanks to Konstanin Agapov's 14th-minute goal. But with 16 seconds left Cirilo silenced the 5,000 crowd, Dinamo's third last-minute away equaliser this season. Ekaterinburg had Konstantin Timoschenkov taken off on a stretcher with concussion. Dinamo coach Yuri Rudnev said: "It was an amazing game, we saw fantastic performances by the goalkeepers, counterattacks and interceptions. I would like to see the Moscow match bring as much satisfaction to the spectators."

Murcia task
Rudnev's side lead Ekaterinburg by 15 points in the Russian Super League and in the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals the hosts and holders meet ElPozo Murcia FS, who are ten points clear of Interviú Fadesa in Spain after a 3-1 defeat of two-time European champions Playas de Castellón FS. Rudnev, whose team's final win against Interviú came after their opponents beat Murcia in the last second to get through, said: "Interviú spent a huge amount of emotion and energy in that match. In the end, they lost the final to us. Now Dinamo are facing a similar problem. I am in no doubt that we are facing an uphill task in defending this title. The fans in Europe consider our team favourites and this means a lot of pressure. In the time remaining I must prepare the team physically and psychologically."

Kairat danger
Ekaterinburg face Kairat Almaty in their attempt to lift the trophy at the first attempt, and Viz-Sinara coach Sergei Skorovich said: "Our club are debutants while the three other clubs have experience in the UEFA Futsal Cup. We know Kazakh futsal very well because we often play clubs from Aktobe and Semey. We understand what kind of team Kairat are."





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