Courtesy: UEFA.com


Kairat boosted by title win

Wednesday 16 April 2008

by Vladimir Magay from Karagandy

UEFA Futsal Cup final four contenders Kairat Almaty have received a boost ahead of next week's competition in Moscow after ensuring their return to Europe next season by retaining the Kazakhstan league title with an 11-4 play-off win against Aktobe BTA.

Atkobe start well
Aiming for a fifth consecutive championship, Kairat were pushed all the way by Aktobe and the title-holders had a late run to thank to pulling level with their rivals at the end of the season and forcing a decider in Karagandy. It looked like Aktobe were on course for a first title when Maksim Pavlenko gave them an early lead, and although Denis Samokhvalov equalised on 14 minutes, Nikolai Maltsev restored the advantage second later. But after Pica Pau had made it 2-2 at the break, Kairat took over.

Kairat streak away
Yuri Butrin put Kairat in front early in the half and six minutes later Dentinho shot into an empty net. Stanislav Kozin pulled one back but Denis Samokhvalov made it 5-3, forcing Aktobe to employ a flying goalkeeper with six minutes remaining. That proved a boon to Kairat, as Dentinho struck three more goals, Butrin added two to seal his hat-trick and Rafael also got on the scoresheet as the champions completed the domestic double and sent out a warning to their semi-final opponents in Moscow on Friday week, MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg. Butrin said "We have come a lot way to reach this match and today we all showed we what we had in terms of emotion and ability. We are happy to be champions at last."

Contenders
Ekaterinburg themselves have two more matches before the final four from 25-27 April, as they travel early to the Russian capital and face PFC CSKA Moskva this weekend. However, third-placed Ekaterinburg trail Russian leaders MFK Dinamo Moskva by 16 points with ten games remaining, and the UEFA Futsal Cup hosts and holders could close in on another title against MFK Norilsky Nikel. Dinamo's semi-final opponents ElPozo Murcia FS have already clinched top seeding in the Spanish play-offs and depart for Russia after visiting Caja Segovia on Saturday.





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