Ekaterinburg overcome Energia

MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg made a winning start on their UEFA Futsal Cup debut while CIP Deva also gained victory as the Elite round began on Sunday.

Narrow win
Ekaterinburg, Russian runners-up behind UEFA Futsal Cup winners MFK Dinamo Moskva last season, are staging Group D and had a tough start against Ukrainian champions SK Energia. They led 2-0 with 12 minutes gone through Konstantin Agapov and Makaev, but Sergii Yakunin pulled it back near the end to ensure a nervous finish. Home coach Sergey Skorovich said: "We started quite well and had a confident first half, and we deserved to benefit. In the second half Energia pressed more and we became complacent, and we were almost made to pay."

Deva success
Romanian champions Deva, who finished second in an Elite round group last season, also made the most of a good first half to overcome Israel's Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion 5-3. Hapoel, who began this competition in the Preliminary round, led on two minutes through Avi Kalif but Robert Florin Matei, Iacob Gabriel Molomfalean, Marian Sotirca and Ioan Al-iIani all struck for Deva to make it 4-1 at the break. Shai Zablotski pulled one back but Deva extended their lead, meaning Molomfelan's late own goal was only a Hapoel consolation.

Monday games
Deva take on Ekaterinburg in Monday's first game, and should the hosts win and Hapoel fail to defeat Energia, Viz-Sinara will take the one available place in the final four. Likewise, a Deva victory would seal their progress if Energia do not win. Two of the other three groups also start on Monday. In Group A in Poland, ElPozo Murcia FS play KMF Marbo Beograd and hosts Clearex Chorzów face Croatia's HMNK Gospić. Over in Group C, Czech hosts FK Era-Pack Chrudim encounter Futsal Topsport Antwerpen and Kairat Almaty are up against Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava.