All reports are courtesy: UEFA.com


Netherlands show their class in emphatic win

Thursday 11 December 2008

Match report by Wayne Harrison from Yubileyny Sports Palace

The Netherlands struck three times in each half to record a convincing 6-1 defeat of Kazakhstan and confirm third place in UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament Group B.

First goal
The Jong Oranje had shown enough during their opening two games to suggest they are a developing team and, having fallen behind to Kazakhstan's first goal of the final tournament from Aleksandr Dovgan, they were quickly 3-1 up at half-time thanks to strikes from Sofian El Adel, Mohammed Attaibi and Oualid Saadouni. Najib El Allouchi, Roy Huisman and Attaibi then struck in the second period to seal a convincing victory.

Parity restored
Kazakhstan found clear scoring opportunities difficult to fashion in their first two matches yet they were ahead after just 72 seconds when Dauren Nurgozhin dispossessed Netherlands captain El Allouchi in the corner and squared for Dovgan to score. Their elation of being ahead only lasted for seven minutes however, as El Allouchi atoned for his part in the first goal by crossing for El Adel to head in.

Rapid strikes
From being behind, the Jong Oranje were soon two goals ahead. First, Attaibi picked up possession on the half-way line, advanced towards goal and drilled a shot past Galimzhan Kosmukhambetov after nine minutes, while three minutes later, an angled drive from Saadouni went inside the near post.

Long-range efforts
The first half was often played at break-neck speed and the second period was no different. As in the opening 20 minutes, the Netherlands killed the game with a rapid blitz. El Adel worked some space in the penalty area and found El Allouchi, who stroked the ball into the empty net, and moments later, with flying goalkeeper Chingiz Yesenamanov out of position, Roy Huisman found the unguarded net from long range. Attaibi repeated Huisman's feat two minutes later to complete a resounding success.

Amirzhan Mukhanov, Kazakhstan coach
"We started well but unfortunately we could not maintain it until the end. The Netherlands are much better athletically than us. We conceded goals the fifth and sixth goals when we changed our goalkeeper. We fought and showed our character and given that the team is very young, I am satisfied; it was a good experience."

Marcel Loosveld, Netherlands coach
"Today I think we didn't start so well defensively and offensively and we didn't do what we are capable of. I was pleased with the second half − it was a very good half for us and we won the game. We did not expect them to press us so we had some difficulties with that. We tried to reorganise at half-time and I'm glad that was successful."



Pola first to five in St Petersburg

Thursday 11 December 2008

by Paul Saffer from St Petersburg

Pola's fifth goal of the UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament on Thursday kept the Spain forward top of the scorers' rankings.

Attaibi consolation
Having already registered twice against both Kazakhstan and the Netherlands, Pola opened the scoring in Spain's 2-1 win against Ukraine today that ensured they ended Group B with nine points. The Netherlands are out after finishing third in that pool but Mohammed Attaibi's two goals in the 6-1 defeat of Kazakhstan doubled his finals tally and leaves him second in the table.

Chasing pack
Three players are on three goal including Gabriel Lima of Spain's semi-final opponents Italy and Russia's Kirill Pogorelov – who scored the only hat-trick in St Petersburg so far in the opening 3-3 draw with Croatia. That team's star Dario Marinoviæ is also on three goals but will not be adding to his tally as Croatia are out.

El Adel ahead
Another Netherlands player, Sofian El Adel, also scored against Kazakhstan to add to his qualifying-leading tally of eight, meaning his overall total of nine is the best for the competition as a whole. Pola and Lima are one behind in that reckoning, as are Attaibi and Marinoviæ.

2008 UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament finals top scorers
After group stage

Player (*team eliminated) (Country) Goals
Pola (Spain) 5
Mohammed Attaibi* (Netherlands) 4
Gabriel (Italy) 3
Dario Marinovic* (Croatia) 3
Kirill Pogorelov (Russia) 3


Croatia and Slovenia out after thriller

Thursday 11 December 2008

Match report by Wayne Harrison from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Slovenia scored twice in the final two minutes to earn a UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament Group A draw with Croatia but the result proved immaterial as both dropped out of the competiton due to the result between Italy and Russia.

Croatia leads
Dario Marinovic fired Croatia ahead, a lead cancelled out by Matic Racic, before Marinovic scored again in the second half and Domen Fratina levelled. Croatia added goals through Mate Bugarija and goalkeeper Zarko Luketin prior to Kristjan Cujec and Alen Mordej salvaging a draw for Slovenia in a storming finish. Slovenia finished above Croatia on goals scored in third place but three points adrift of Russia and Italy, who also drew.

Tense start
With both teams knowing a defeat would end their tournament, perhaps it was no surprise that a tense start ensued with Damir Puskar's save from Bugarija the clearest chance of the opening seven minutes. The game soon opened up, though, and Slovenia came close to scoring when a shot by Cujec rattled the crossbar.

Racic rebound
Croatia forged ahead when Marinovic – who had been a doubt due to a hip injury – robbed Èujec on the halfway line, surged towards goal and slipped the ball past Puskar after 15 minutes. The lead lasted just a minute, however, as a long-range shot from Gasper Vrhovec hit the post and Racic pounced on the rebound.

Double strike
Croatia took the lead on 29 minutes when Marinovic scored direct from a free-kick yet, just like the first period, neither side could hold their advantage as Fratina turned on the edge of the Croatia area and fired past Luketin just two minutes later. Luketin then claimed an assist for his side's third when his shot was palmed out by Puskar and Bugarija tucked away the rebound, and the goalkeeper scored himself when he lobbed Slovenia's flying goalkeeper Gaj Rosic. But Cujec turned in a shot from Rosic and, in the final minute, Mordej drew Slovenia level with a close-range effort.

Zoran Tesko, Slovenia coach
"It was an open game for both teams. Initially we waited a little bit for a few minutes then opened up and tried to play a pressing game. Croatia played deep in the first half but played very good. They scored first so we were behind. In the second half they also scored again first and we were then two goals behind but in the end thanks to a bit of luck we scored twice to level, the last 30 seconds from the end, so we are lucky."

Mladen Perica, Croatia coach
"After the first two games I was fine but after this I am more than angry as it is the third game in a row that we have lost points at the end. Today even leading [by two goals] with two and a half minutes to go was not enough for us and obviously we have a problem in matches when they are entering the final stages. At the end I cannot say anything to my players as they played well but definitely we have to work on those moments when our opponents are pressing us. I am really sorry we couldn't win at least one match but that's life and I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate Slovenia on today's match and their tournament."



Spain strike late to ensure top spot

Thursday 11 December 2008

Match report by Paul Saffer from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Raúl Campos ensured Spain go into Friday's UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament semi-finals with a perfect competition record after his late strike secured victory against Ukraine.

Late winner
Pola's opener, his finals-leading fifth goal in St Petersburg, put Spain ahead in the match between the guaranteed Group B qualifiers only for Oleksandr Kolesnikov to equaliser. A draw would have been enough to give Spain first place but Raúl Campos's late goal ensured they clinched top spot in style, meaning they will play Group A runners-up Italy and Ukraine take on that section's winners, hosts Russia.

Pola goal
With last-four berths secure for both teams it was inevitable that it would not be a frenetic encounter from the off and the first good chance came six minutes in through Dmytro Sorokin, shooting just over from distance. However, the deadlock was broken by Spain a couple of minutes later. Mario Ossorio's kick-in found Pola in position and the No7 made no mistake with his strong shot.

Equaliser
Ukraine levelled just before the quarter-hour. Kolesnikov received the ball from a corner, faked to shoot, and with his marker out of the way sent a strike into the opposite top corner. Luis nearly restored the Spain lead but his effort was tipped over by Kyrylo Tsypun, given a start in place of rested Ukraine goalkeeper-captain Dmytro Lytvynenko.

Decisive strike
Spain coach Jordi García also took the chance to field reserve goalkeeper Didac Plana following half-time, as he has done throughout the group stage, but the replacement for Carlos Barrón had little to do. It seemed the game was drifting towards a draw but, with little more than four minutes left, Raúl Campos let fly from distance and Tsypun was beaten.

Jordi García, Spain coach
"The game was decided by minor errors by both teams. We are very used to playing against this team and we knew it would be tough. They did not give us a chance to play the ball around."

Gennadiy Lysenchuk, Ukraine coach
"I want to congratulate Spain on the victory. We lost to a really strong opponents today. I am sure that they'll play in the final. We dream about playing Spain again on Sunday and getting revenge. Our first-choice goalkeeper Dmytro Lytvynenko didn't play today and our doctors recommended giving a rest to Sergiy Zhurba and Dmitriy Klochko. The young players got a chance to prove themselves, and I liked that they battled until the end against really classy opponents."



Rivals progress after exciting encounter

Thursday 11 December 2008

Match report by Paul Saffer from Yubileyny Sports Palace

Hosts Russia and Italy both got the point they needed to go reach the UEFA European Futsal Tournament semi-finals but that does not mean the pair were settling for a draw.

Russia top
The hosts led twice through Dmitri Prudnikov and Dmitri Lyskov but Andre Fantecele and Gabriel Lima equalised for comeback specialists Italy. However, the Azzurrini could not find a winner and as Group A runners-up on goals scored face Spain in Friday's semi-finals, the match followed by Russia's meeting with neighbours Ukraine.

Early opener
In the third minute the loudest crowd of the competition so far was given something to cheer. Ivan Milovanov played the ball to the right of goal for Vladimir Goncharov to pull back for Russia captain Prudnikov to emphatically strike past Gabriel Miraglia. Italy, who had captain Massimo De Luca back from a knee injury, looked to respond quickly, Douglas Poltronieri only just denied by a saving tackle from Danil Kutuzov.

Further goals
Fantecele had a shot turned over by Sergei Slemzin but the Italy No14 equalised in the eleventh minute after pouncing on a slip in the Russia defence. Milovanov almost restored the lead late in the half; Miraglia's diving save prevented that. However, he could do nothing to keep out Lyskov's ferocious shot from wide on the left seconds from the break.

Points shared
Moments into the second half Gabriel Lima was denied by a point-blank Slemzin save as Italy piled on the pressure. It was not long before Lima made his threat tell, though, shooting in after being fed by Felipe Arteiro's corner. A draw would have meant progress for both opponents but neither side seemed happy to settle for that. Prudnikov rattled the woodwork with a particularly choice effort while in the tense late stages Italy coach Paolo Minicucci was dismissed.

Paolo Minicucci, Italy coach
"We played against a very strong team, that today probably proved to be a step above us. As always happens when there is this physical gap we can only limit that with a tactical plan and the heart that we show on the pitch. I can only give compliments to Russia and to my players, because we obtained a historic result as far as we are concerned."

Oleg Ivanov, Russia coach
"At this tournament everything is well-organised and all eight teams are really strong. We played for victory today. I think that both teams put on an attractive game with a lot of combinations. Of course a draw was enough for us, but we still wanted to win. We have some good individuals in our team, and the tactics are based on them. Just like Andrei Arshavin at Zenit St. Petersburg."



Derby day in futsal U21 semi-finals

Thursday 11 December 2008

by Paul Saffer from St Petersburg

Hosts Russia will take on neighbours Ukraine in Friday's UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament semi-finals in St Petersburg following the other last-four encounter between perennial rivals Spain and Italy.

Groups conclude
Russia clinched progress as Group A winners on Thursday with a 2-2 draw against Italy, also through but pipped to first place on goals scored. Spain beat Ukraine 2-1 to top Group B but both sides had already ensured their qualification.

Schedule
The game between Spain and Italy will be the first to kick off at the Yubileiny Sports Palace at 17.00 local time (15.00 CET), with Russia against Ukraine beginning two hours later at the same venue. The final is on Sunday at 16.00 local time (14.00CET).







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