Courtesy: UEFA.com


Murcia determined to outdo Dinamo

Tuesday 22 April 2008

by Delfín Ramírez

ElPozo Murcia FS may have replaced Interviú Fadesa and Playas de Castellón FS as the dominant team in Spanish futsal, but unlike their rivals are yet to win the European title.

Emulation
On Friday, Murcia begin their campaign in the UEFA Futsal Cup final four aiming to lift the trophy for the first time and emulate two-time winners Castellón and Interviú. Last year's semi-finalists have the toughest possible opening, a meeting with hosts and holders MFK Dinamo Moskva, but coach Duda says his team are hungry for the continental title. "There's never a lack of motivation in a tournament like this one and even more so when we have never won it before," Duda told uefa.com. "There's a sense of needing to win this competition in the dressing room. They're all very excited about achieving it and the team knows that."

Advantage
Murcia have already secured first place in the Spanish league regular season, giving them top seeding in the end-of-season title play-offs which they have won for the last two campaigns. But in Moscow things will be tougher, not that Duda is too disappointed to have been matched with Dinamo, who pipped his team to the 2005 final. "We think that if Dinamo had been drawn in the other semi-final we would have met them in the final," the 38-year-old Brazilian said. "I'd rather play against Dinamo in the semis because then we'll be more relaxed and have more time to prepare for the match, unlike the final."

Cirilo the key
However, Murcia cannot let up against the runaway Russian leaders, who have reached the last three UEFA Futsal Cup finals. "To beat Dinamo, concentration is fundamental," Duda said. "We know our opponents, we know what do to tactically. Their main player and the one they base their tactics on is Cirilo. He's their star, although they're all good and work together well."

Consolation
Duda's team were the hosts of the inaugural final four event last year and only missed out on their first final after a last-second Interviú winner. But even if they are condemned to the third-place play-off again, the coach will not be disheartened. "The word failure wouldn't describe our feelings because we have the chance to compete for the title and that's an achievement in itself," he said "We're playing against great opponents so whatever happens, we'll be happy."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ekaterinburg aiming for futsal crown

Wednesday 23 April 2008

by Dmitri Rogovitski from Moscow

Whereas this week's other three UEFA Futsal Cup final-four contenders have reached at least the semis of this competition before, MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg are making their European debut and have never even won their domestic league title. But a continental honour would do instead.

Kairat task
Ekaterinburg lie third in the Russian Super League, a 0-0 weekend draw at MFK CSKA Moskva leaving them even further adrift of final four hosts MFK Dinamo Moskva. But a victory against Kairat Almaty in the capital on Friday and Ekaterinburg are in the UEFA Futsal Cup final at the first time of asking. "We have already proved much by progressing to the final four in our debut European season," said Ekaterinburg coach Sergei Skorovich. "There are no easy rivals at this stage. So we are treating the semi-final against Kairat with appropriate gravity."

Challenge
The 35-year-old, once a player for Ekaterinburg himself, has based his squad around domestic talent and does not see his side as the favourites against the team that retained the Kazakhstan title by beating Aktobe BTA 11-4 in a play-off last Wednesday. "I have watched many Kairat games in the Kazakhstan league and I know they have plenty of high-class players, many good Brazilians. Besides Kairat are not new to European competition, unlike us."

Domestic preparations
While Kairat have completed their domestic campaign, Ekaterinburg are in a tight race with TTG-JAVA Yugorsk to finish runners-up behind Dinamo, a position which earned Viz-Sinara their European debut a year ago as the Moscow team won the UEFA Futsal Cup. "'Perhaps the disadvantage for our opponents is that they have already finished their league," said Skorovich. "Viz are battling for the silver at the moment. Against Kairat, much will depend on the teams' readiness for the match in hand."

Dinamo aim
In the league this season Skorovich's side secured just one point in four meetings with Dinamo and were denied victory 14 seconds from time in the first leg of the Russian Cup final last month, with the return not until May. But they could meet for the European title on Sunday. "If we get through the semis it would be interesting to take on Dinamo in the final," the coach said. "But are not thinking of the final for now."




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Golden victory fires Kairat bid

Thursday 24 April 2008

by Timur Kamashev from Almaty

Kairat Almaty come to the UEFA Futsal Cup final four fired up for the challenge in Moscow, still on a high from their dramatic Kazakhstan league triumph.

Butrin treble
Having trailed Aktobe BTA for most of the season, a late surge took Kairat level at the top at the end of the campaign, setting up a play-off which the reigning champions brilliantly won 11-4, though a burst of goals near the end obscured how tense the game had been. Local hero Yuriy Butrin scored a hat-trick and believes the performance has set them up nicely for Friday's European semi-final against MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg.

High on emotion
"We are off to Moscow in a highly emotional mood," Butrin told uefa.com. "That is because we defeated Aktobe BTA in the golden play-off to claim domestic title. Aktobe did very well not only in Kazakhstan but also in Europe, in the Recopa Cup, the unofficial cup winners' cup for futsal. So it was very important for us to beat our fiercest rivals before travelling to the final four. Now we are mentally charged to the required level."

Preparations
Butrin denied that the title race had taken its toll on the squad, as Kairat aim to go one better than in their previous two-legged semi-final against this year's hosts MFK Dinamo Moskva in 2006. He said: "We are not tired in any way. We expect to approach the games in good physical condition and with a positive mentality. Without any overconfidence and underestimation, we plan to defeat Viz in the first match. To win, we need not only to show high commitment but also to play with discipline."

First goal wins
He added: "It is important to open the scoring. The high speed in futsal and quick changes of situation can lead to fatal mistakes. Here we have two almost equal teams, so it is mostly important to exploit our opponents' mistakes and avoid mistakes ourselves. In a fierce struggle one also needs a bit of luck. God knows we are focused to the limit!"




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Bali turns heat on futsal scorers

Thursday 24 April 2008

by Paul Saffer from Moscow

Wilde is the leading UEFA Futsal Cup scorer this season from among the final four but the ElPozo Murcia player is six goals adrift of Futsal Topsport Antwerpen's Karim Bali.

Bali feat
Murcia, MFK Dinamo Moskva, MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg and Kairat Almaty were all seeded to the Elite round, meaning they have only played three games in the competition this season compared to six for the likes of Antwerpen, who entered in the Main round before progressing to the penultimate stage. And it was in the Main round that 22-year-old Belgian Bali claimed ten of his goals, including six in a 9-1 defeat of Athina '90 Athens.

Wilde bid
Ricardinho is second in the rankings, one of three SL Benfica players in the current top six. Wilde is joint seventh, thanks to his hat-trick against KMF Marbo Beograd and two goals apiece versus HMNK Gospiæ and Clearex Chorzów as Murcia stormed through the Elite round. The only other player to strike five times for one of the final four is Dinamo's Kelson, while even if Wilde does overhaul Bali he would need six more goals to equal the all-time season record of 19, set by Kelson's former Action 21 Charleroi team-mate Andre in 2003/04.

2007/08 UEFA Futsal Cup top scorers
13 - Karim Bali (Futsal Topsport Antwerpen)
11 - Ricardinho (SL Benfica)
09 - Roman Mares (FK Era-Pack Chrudim)
08 - Arnaldo (SL Benfica)
08 - Shay Zabloski (Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion)
08 - Zé Maria (SL Benfica)
07 - Wilde (ElPozo Murcia Turistica)
05 - Kelson (MFK Dinamo Moscow)
04 - Konstantin Agapov (MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg)
04 - Cacau (Kairat Almaty)
04 - Jadder (Kairat Almaty)
04 - Damir Khamadiev (MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg)
04 - Tatu (MFK Dinamo Moscow)







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