All reports are courtesy: UEFA.com


Fluent Spain advance past the Netherlands

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Match report by Wayne Harrison from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Pola scored twice more as Spain defeated the Netherlands 5-1 in their second UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament Group B match to move into the semi-finals.

Five-goal haul
Pola put the tournament favourites two up before half-time to take his tournament tally to four goals. Víctor López and Mario Ossorio then scored within a minute of each other and despite Oualid Saadouni pulling one back, Luis soon restored the four-goal lead late on. Ukraine's 2-0 win against Kazakhstan later on Tuesday ensured they go through with Spain and eliminated the Netherlands.

Third goal
Pola scored twice in the 4-0 defeat of Kazakhstan yesterday and it was the No7 who put Spain ahead two minutes in when he tapped in a low cross from captain Lolo. In an open start, the Netherlands sought a swift response and would have done so had Mohammed Attaibi capitalised on a spill by Óscar Iglesias.

Potent Pola
Always comfortable in possession, Spain should have doubled their lead when Lola shot over from close range though, the second did arrive on 16 minutes when Raúl Campos's shot was deflected in by Pola. Almost immediately, Attaibi struck the crossbar for the Netherlands as they looked to halve the deficit.

Quick strikes
The Netherlands exerted some pressure on the Spain goal as the first half drew to a close, although it was Spain who quickly forced Dutch goalkeeper Pieter Grimmelius into two smart saves after the break. Although the Netherlands continued to press they soon found themselves three behind as Víctor finished off a swift counterattack on 27 minutes, and a minute later Ossorio charged up court and drilled in a fourth. The Jong Oranje pulled a goal back when Saadouni pounced on a spill by Didac Plana, who replaced Óscar at half-time, only for Luis to round Grimmelius and restore the four-goal lead. A point on Thursday for Spain against Ukraine would clinch first place in the group.

Jordi García, Spain coach
"We scored early and that gave us the basis to go on and win. I am very happy to have reached the semi-finals, this side have done that in four straight tournaments. Our best player [Sergio Lozano] is not here having picked up an injury just before the tournament. But we have to be prepared for such circumstances and we had a contingency. He has been keeping in touch with us by phone."

Marcel Loosveld, Netherlands coach
"After yesterday we knew what we had to do, take some risks and try to stay in the game for a long time and maybe get a good result. But too quickly they took the lead, then went 2-0 up, and then it is difficult against a team like Spain to get possession. I spoke to their coach and he said only two of his players were not professional, I have no professionals and that is a great difference for us."



Follador finish puts Italy in position

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Match report by Paul Saffer from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Luiz Filipe Follador struck with less than five minutes remaining to give Italy an invaluable UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament Group A victory against Croatia.

Comeback
Both teams began the game on one point and Dario Marinoviæ shot Croatia into an early lead but Gabriel Lima equalised and Italy dominated before Follador made their superiority count. Italy know a draw with hosts Russia on Thursday would ensure progress while Croatia will aim to keep their campaign alive against Slovenia.

Croatia ahead
There was little to tell between the teams early on though Domagoj Petriæ forced a save from Italy goalkeeper Gabriel Miraglia, captaining the Azzurrini as Massimo De Luca was not risked having hurt his knee in the 2-2 Monday draw with Slovenia. The deadlock was broken in the seventh minute when Marinoviæ robbed Andrei Fantecele, advanced on goal and shot past Miraglia. However, his game was to end early due to a hip injury.

Leveller
Italy twice equalised yesterday and did so again when Douglas Perassolli slipped through Lima, who made no mistake with his finish. Croatia conceded their sixth foul not long after the goal; Sergio Romano came on to take the double penalty but Mario Herceg, replacing Žarko Luketin in goal for the set-piece, saved. Fantecele hit the crossbar as Italy remained dominant but in the last seconds of the half they conceded a double penalty though Miraglia denied Mate Bugarija.

Pressure tells
The Azzurrini remained on top after the break. Douglas Poltronieri broke through and hit the post, from the rebound Luketin denied Daniel Giasson and after the resultant corner the goalkeeper clawed back Lima's effort just before the line. He then made a superb double save from Fantecele and Follador's follow-up was blocked by Damir Repinc. However, Follador was played through again and although Luketin blocked his first effort, Italy's No5 found the target with his next attempt.

Paolo Minicucci, Italy coach
"I'm satisfied with the result, what we hoped before this European has come true day by day. We have played against two excellent teams, the gap between these nations has disappeared. We knew this would prove a pivotal match and that it would be a physical affair from yesterday's evidence. Winning this way is a matter of great pride though I must say that Italy dominated the game, like yesterday we had many chances that we didn't take."

Mladen Perica, Croatia coach
"We can say that small details caused the result in the end. We must way that our main player [Marinoviæ] was injured in the first half and we had to play the rest of the game without him. You could see the difference in the second half. Another reason was that we had a tough match at 19.00 yesterday against Russia and at 15.00 today, and our players are not used to that. But I am more than satisfied and proud of my players for their approach to this game."



Ukraine secure semi-final place

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Match report by Wayne Harrison from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Goals at the beginning of each half helped secure Ukraine a 3-0 win against Kazakhstan in UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament Group B, earning them and Spain places in Friday's semi-finals with a game to spare.

Group decider
An angled finish by Vitaliy Gavrylenko on three minutes and a strike 37 seconds into the second half from Dmytro Sorokin, plus a late Dmitriy Klochko strike from long range, earned Ukraine their second win of the finals and lifted Gennadiy Lysenchuk's team on to six points along with Spain. Those two teams face each other in the final match of the section on Thursday to decide who will win the group, with Spain ahead on goal difference, while eliminated Kazakhstan and the Netherlands will play for pride.

Early goal
Kazakhstan lost 4-0 to Spain in Monday's opener and they were soon a goal down today when Gavrylenko evaded the challenge of goalkeeper Galimzhan Kosmukhambetov and found the net from an acute angle. Unperturbed, Amirzhan Mukhanov's players settled and only a smothering save by Dmytro Lytvynenko prevented Kazakhstan from equalising. In a sweeping Ukraine move, Oleksandr Sorokin then combined with Klochko to test Kosmukhambetov yet Kazakhstan were always a threat as Dauren Nurgozhin and Aleksandr Dovgan showed within seconds of each other.

Victory sealed
However, just 37 seconds after the restart Ukraine doubled their advantage when Klochko controlled a long ball from the back and squared to Dmytro Sorokin to roll the ball into an unguarded net. Despite the setback, Kazakhstan − cheered on by a small but vocal band of flag-waving supporters − never let their heads drop and Pavel Shakirov had powerful volley beaten out by Lytvynenko. Chingiz Yesenamanov was deployed as a flying goalkeeper but with the Kazakhstan goal unguarded Klochko fired in from inside his own half 32 seconds from time.

Gennadiy Lysenchuk, Ukraine coach
"We are really happy, as we have reached our minimum goal in two days, making it through to the semi-finals. We won with a good score against a decent team. They have a big future, most of their players are much younger than 21, so they can play the same team in the next tournament. We studied them before the tournament and saw their game yesterday, so we knew Kazakhstan. We made our tactical plan and won, even so we didn't play that well today."

Amirzhan Mukhanov, Kazakhstan
"I have to congratulate Ukraine on their deserved victory and a place in the semi-finals. We played two totally different matches. I don't want to offend Ukraine, but Spain are at another level. It was quite an equal game today, yet we let in a goal in the beginning of each half. After the break we had to play more openly, and we paid for that. Ukraine are stronger than us physically. I have to say, that I really liked the first half."



Goncharov goal sends Russia into raptures

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Match report by Paul Saffer from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Vladimir Goncharov scored with only three seconds remaining to give UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament hosts Russia victory against Slovenia.

Dramatic ending
Twice Russia led in the first half, but by the 28-minute mark Slovenia were in front. The home nation secured a 3-3 draw two seconds from time last night against Croatia; this time they levelled just under four minutes out through Dmitry Prudnikov, leaving time for Goncharov to send Russia top of Group A ahead of Italy on goals scored, three points clear of Slovenia and Croatia. Russia require just a point against Italy on Thursday; Slovenia need the hosts to win and to beat Croatia themselves.

Russia ahead
The hosts were ahead on four minutes when Prudnikov's cross to the far post was turned in by Dmitri Lyskov. Having conceded two equalisers in their 2-2 draw with Italy, Slovenia scored one themselves when Matic Raèiè turned the ball in from a tight angle after Domen Fratina's shot was blocked by Sergey Slemzin. Stung, the hosts took control and restored their lead when Aleksei Petrov's effort from distance was touched in by Ivan Milovanov.

Slovenia in front
Five minutes into the second half it was 2-2, Rok Mordej on target. That unsettled Russia and Ildar Nugumanov was sent off for retaliation. Gašper Vrhovec hit the crossbar in Slovenia's two minutes with an extra man. However, when Russia were back to five players they conceded almost immediately, Gaj Rosiè's shot was parried by Slemzin and Kristjan Èujec turned in the rebound.

Final twist
Russia were given a lifeline with just under seven minutes left thanks to a sixth Slovenian foul but Petrov's double penalty was saved by Slemzin. However, from open play Prudnikov made no mistake from outside the box and when it seemed a draw would be the result, Goncharov produced a neat finish to send the Yubileyny Sports Palace into raptures.

Oleg Ivanov, Russia coach
"We don't train to score goals at the end of matches, we train our nerves. Both Croatia and Slovenia are serious opponents, very strong physically. Their players are very tall, so you can't beat them one-on-one without speed. Of course, after we took the lead, we had to score more goals to kill the game. We showed our character at the end again, and that's good. We have 14 equal players in the squad. [Vladimir] Ryabinin didn't play well in the first match, so I replaced him with Goncharov, who scored the decisive goal."

Zoran Tesko, Slovenia coach
"We played very well, it was a very good game and it was a difficult match right until the end. At the end it was our mistake from which Russia scored and we think that Russia yesterday and today are on a lucky streak – it is unbelievable to score twice in the last two or three seconds but they are a good team and we wish them the best."



Pola sets pace in scorers' race

Tuesday 9 December 2008

by Paul Saffer from St Petersburg

Spain forward Pola is the top scorer after two sets of UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament matches in St Petersburg.

Double feat
The 20-year-old scored twice in their opening 4-0 win against Kazakhstan and Pola repeated the feat today in the 5-1 defeat of the Netherlands that booked Spain's semi-final place with one Group B game to spare. Russia's Kirill Pogorelov claimed a hat-trick in Monday's 3-3 draw with Croatia and holds second place in the table, one ahead of four players – Mohammed Attaibi of the eliminated Netherlands, Italy's Gabriel Lima and Ukraine pair Dmitriy Klochko and Sergiy Zhurba, whose team are, like Spain, already through. So far the eight matches have produced 38 goals, of which nine have been scored by Spain.

2008 UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament top scorers
After Matchday 2

Player (Country) Goals
Pola (Spain) 4
Kirill Pogorelov (Russia) 3
Mohammed Attaibi (Netherlands) 2
Dmitriy Klochko (Ukraine) 2
Gabriel (Italy) 2
Sergiy Zhurba (Ukraine) 2




Follador enjoys his good fortune

Wednesday 10 December 2008

by Francesco Corda from St Petersburg

After equalising against Slovenia on UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament Matchday 1, Italy pressed in vain for a winner. Yesterday, having pegged back Croatia, the Azzurrini made their pressure tell with five minutes remaining courtesy of Luiz Filipe Follador.

Winner
The 20-year-old had already been denied more than once by Croatia goalkeeper Žarko Luketin but when the custodian could only parry one shot, Follador was on hand to secure a 2-1 win that leaves Italy needing only a draw against Russia on Thursday to reach the semi-finals. His relief afterwards was clear.

Emotional moment
"It was a moment of high emotion," Follador told uefa.com, "but I don't deserve all the credit because the whole team fought until the end. Starting from Monday's game we were continually trying to score but the ball never seemed to want to go in, I think I was lucky to have the honour of scoring the winner. But I repeat, I want to share all the credit with the rest of the team."

Gaining experience
CL Terni player Follador mused as to why Italy were able to make the breakthrough against Croatia having missed out the day before. "We started with more experience after having played the first game, more concentration, even though we were the first to concede again," he said, "but we used our heads, and we succeeded in coming from behind and winning the game."

Chances missed
Follador nonetheless acknowledges that Italy are not turning possession into goals. "The other teams are definitely more physical than us, but I think we're playing well and creating a lot," he said. "We are lacking only the final touch, we are making mistakes with the last pass and this prevents us scoring more."

Next task
Italy's next task is to face Russia, where a win would give them first place, and while Follador is not ready to settle for a point and the runners-up slot, he is unconcerned about the identity of their future opponents. "Everybody speaks about Spain and Russia, but honestly I haven't seen them play. I saw a little of Ukraine against the Netherlands yesterday, which didn't impress me so much. We always aim to win and that will be the case against Russia."



Pola proud of Spanish superiority

Wednesday 10 December 2008

by Paul Saffer from St Petersburg

There was always plenty for Spain to live up to in the first UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament.

Pedigree
At senior level Spain have proved to be the dominant European nation in the sport, winning the inaugural UEFA tournament in 1996 and going on to lift three of the first five official continental championships, including the most recent last year in Porto, as well as two FIFA Futsal World Cups. On top of that, their U21 squad won the key form guide to this event, last year's friendly tournament in St Petersburg, and although they lost captain Sergio Lozano to an ankle injury on the eve of the finals, Spain beat Kazakhstan 4-0 and the Netherlands 5-1 to book a last-four place from Group B with a game to spare.

Winning aim
Key to Spain's flying start has been Adrián Alonso, better known as Pola, who struck twice against Kazakhstan then repeated the feat with his side's two first-half goals in defeating the Netherlands. And the A. Lobelle de Santiago FS player is clear that he expects to continue in Spain's exulted tradition. "We have to be the best and win everything," Pola told uefa.com. "Our success is down to the work of the team, not only me. The reason I have scored all these goals is down to the team."

Absent captain's support
After scoring his second goal on Tuesday, Pola began to receive treatment and did not reappear until late in the game, but his problem did not turn out to be serious. "I had a little bit of cramp in the first half, I needed a bit of work but in the end I was OK," he said. Sadly, Lozano's injury – a ligament tear suffered in a warm-up friendly – was more serious but despite not being in Russia he is still backing his team-mates. "It was a pity and we had to bring in someone else," Pola added, "but he is calling every day to find out the results and to give us his congratulations."








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