Courtesy: UEFA.com


Dinamo move into position

Sunday 9 November 2008

MFK Dinamo Moskva are one point away from becoming the only team to compete in all three UEFA Futsal Cup final four events after opening up a lead in Elite round Group C with one match to go.

Dinamo wins
Dinamo, who lost the last two-legged finals in 2005 and 2006 before lifting the trophy in 2007, finished third in Moscow in 2008 and hope to be competing again next April. However, they had to overcome an opening-day deficit to beat Romanian champions ACS Odorheiu Secuiesc before today's defeat of Araz Naxçivan took Dinamo on to six points, three clear of the only team that can overtake them, hosts MNK Nacional Zagreb, against who the former holders require a draw on Tuesday.

Comeback
The Russian side found themselves one down to Odorheiu at the break on Saturday after Anatoli Badretdinov put through an own goal and by the 26-minute mark trailed 3-0, János Madarász and Zoltan Mihaly on target. But Sergei Ivanov pulled one back with on the half-hour and Konstantin Maevski further reduced arrears six minutes later. Aleksandr Rakhimov equalised in the 38th minute and 80 seconds from time Maevski's effort was deflected into his own net by Szabolcs Tóth to edge Dinamo in front and they held on to win.

Araz hold on
Nacional lost 4-3 to Azerbaijan's Araz after nearly overturning a 3-0 deficit themselves. Seymur Mammadov put Araz ahead and two Maciel goals added to the lead. Antonio Maia Erinilson pulled one back with five minutes left in the first half and scored again the same distance from full-time. Two minutes from the end Agatair Azimov struck for Araz, just as well from his point of view considering Erinilson then completed his hat-trick.

Tatu clincher
It was a similar story for Dinamo on Sunday against Araz as they shot into a three-goal lead before being made to sweat. Rakhimov made it 1-0 on eleven minutes and the advantage was increased by Vladislav Shayakhmetov and Pula though Araz responded before the break. Six minutes after the interval Araz scored again but they moved past the five fouls mark in the second half and with three minutes left, Tatu clinched a 4-2 win for Dinamo with a double penalty that ended their opponents' chances of playing in the final four.

Nacional hope
Therefore Dinamo knew they would clinch first place unless Tuesday opponents Nacional defeated Odorheiu, who knew their hopes of progress were over at kick-off. And Nacional's 5-3 win keeps their campaign alive but they need to defeat Dinamo on Tuesday, and by a two-goal margin if Araz beat Odorheiu. Holders MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg begin their campaign the same day as Group A hosts against Luparense Calcio A5 of Italy, with FC Shakhtar Donetsk playing Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava.




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