Futsal five keep dream alive

Romania, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Finland and Cyprus have all won through to the main qualifying round after the final day of action in the UEFA European Futsal Championship preliminary round.

Five spots
In all five places were up for grabs - one apiece for the winners of groups A, B and C, while there were also spots in the competition proper for the two best runners-up. The likes of holders Spain now enter the fray next month, and all will have the ultimate hope of taking one of seven places in the November finals in Porto, Portugal.

Gherman treble
Romania were 7-1 winners against Latvia today, thanks in part to a Cosmin Gherman hat-trick, to make it three wins out of three in the Group B mini-tournament they hosted in Deva. Elsewhere, Turkey and Finland won 5-2 against Armenia and Albania respectively to secure passage from Group A. Although both qualified teams achieved seven points from their fixtures, Turkey clinched pole position in Vantaa on goal difference from the hosts.

Top two meet
Finally, in Group C, Kazakhstan clinched top spot with a 6-3 victory against Cyprus although both have progressed. The Kazakhs had to come from going a goal behind to make it three wins out of three, largely thanks to a quickfire double from Dlnis Samohvalov, but six points was enough to take Cyprus through as well as the second best runners-up. By virtue of an inferior goal difference to Cyprus, Group B's second-placed team Latvia miss out. Group C concluded with Georgia beating hosts Malta 5-2 in a match delayed by a power failure.