Courtesy: UEFA.com


Nautara first through in Futsal Cup

Sunday 10 August 2008

FK Nautara Kaunas are the first team to win through from the UEFA Futsal Cup Preliminary round after three of the six groups began this weekend.

Lithuanian joy
The Lithuanian side lost all three of their fixtures on their only previous European entry in 2005/06 but made a successful start to Group D on home territory with a 5-3 win against CSC Dinamo Chisinau on Saturday while the first-ever Danish entrants, Albertslund IF, held KF Tirana 2-2. After Dinamo beat Tirana 9-4 in today's first game, Nautara knew victory would book the one Main round berth on offer, and thanks to a 3-2 defeat of Albertslund will travel to the Czech Republic for Group 5 in early September to take on hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim, Iberia 2003 Tbilisi – who defeated the Kaunus side 5-4 three years ago – and Israel's Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion, among the 18 sides entering at the second stage. Before that, their Preliminary round Group D concludes on Tuesday as Nautara take on Tirana and Albertslund face Dinamo.

Group B showdown
Group B will be decided that day after Austrian hosts 1. FC Graz and FK Nikars Riga both picked up two victories. On Saturday, Graz defeated Andorra's FC Madriu 4-1 and Nikars defeated FC Seefeld Zürich 10-6. Today, Nikars edged past Madriu 2-1 and Graz won 4-2 against Seefeld. Nikars lead on goal difference so Graz must gain maximum points in their meeting with the Latvian team to pip them to Main round Group 2 against Italy's Luparense C/5, Serbian champions KMF Ekonomac Kragujevac and Polish hosts PA Nova Gliwice.

Politechnik on top
The first set of Group A fixtures were on Sunday and the maiden Icelandic entrants, Vídir Gardi, were edged out 4-3 by Politechnik Yerevan while French hosts Roubaix Futsal drew 3-3 with FC Parnassos of Cyprus. Politechnik can go through on Monday if they defeat Parnassos, provided Roubaix do not beat Vídir, otherwise the group will be decided on Wednesday. The three-team Group C gets under way tomorrow as Bulgarian hosts FC Nadin Sofia face England's Ipswich Wolves, with Macedonian team KMF Elita Tetovo sitting out Matchday 1.






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