Murcia show spirit but Kairat falter

UEFA Futsal Cup final four contenders ElPozo Murcia FS played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with old rivals Interviú Fadesa this weekend while Kairat Almaty fell to their first defeat of the season in Kazakhstan.

Old rivals
Murcia's European campaign was ended in the final second of last season's semi-finals by two-time UEFA Futsal Cup winners Interviú – when known as Boomerang – but ElPozo won the Spanish title to ensure they and not the 2006/07 continental runners-up would be in this season’s competition. That duo are likely to reach the end-of-season play-offs in Spain again, and produced one of their typically thrilling encounters at the Palacio de Deportes de Murcia.

Murcia fightback
Interviú scored the only goal of the first half through Daniel, but with six minutes to go Joan and Marquinho struck in quick succession to seemingly put the visitors in control. Álvaro pulled one back, and Gabriel responded, but then with two minutes left Kike reduced the deficit to two goals and in the final seconds Wilde struck twice to secure a draw. "They were two minutes of madness," said Murcia coach Duda, whose team fell to second, one point behind FC Barcelona who won 5-4 at Móstoles 2008 FS.

Kairat slip
Kairat only dropped six points in 24 games last season, but have now let five slip in six matches after their 3-2 reverse at Aktobe BTA. Going into the double-header, visitors Kairat led Aktobe by six points but had played two matches more, and the first encounter was drawn 2-2. A day later Aktobe stormed into a two-goal lead, and although Kairat came back to level, Thai goalkeeper Somkid Chuenta prevented the champions getting ahead and the home side won the game with the last kick of the match.

Russian duo through
The other two teams in the final four event from 24-26 April, holders MFK Dinamo Moskva and European debutants MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg, current hold the top two places in the Russian Super League but were in Russian Cup last 16 action this weekend. Dinamo beat MFK Zvezda-Istland Irkutsk 8-3 to complete a 13-3 aggregate win, while Ekaterinburg's 2-2 draw with MFK Norilsky Nikel-2 ensured a 9-3 overall triumph. In the quarter-finals in December and January, league leaders Dinamo play MFK Norilsky Nikel and cup holders Ekaterinburg will meet MFK Lipetsk.