Prolific Portugal claim their place
Friday, January 30, 2004
Article summary
Group 3: Portugal cruised through with ease, scoring 22 goals in their three qualifiers.
Article body
Portugal are through to the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship finals after showing fine form in Group 3 in Andorra.
Andorra victorious
They began the group as they meant to go on in their opener as they overcame Moldova 6-1. The score was 1-1 as half-time neared, but scored before the break and Portugal then eased away. Hosts Andorra were also victorious, beating pre-qualifiers Cyprus 4-2. Veteran Xavier Sola Peralba's goals at the start and end of the second half, with the scores then at 1-0 and 3-2, proved vital.
Portugal three points clear
The goals continued to flow for Portugal when they faced Cyprus, an 8-0 victory the result. Majó's hat-trick either side of the break - in the 19th, 20th and 21st minutes - was the highlight. Andorra, though, were stopped in their tracks as Moldova bounced back with an 11-3 win. Ivan Todorov scored two goals in each half, as Moldova raced to a 7-1 lead at the break and consolidated afterwards.
Decisive triumph
Another 8-0 win took Portugal through, this time against Andorra in front of more than 1,000 fans bolstered by a significant ex-pat following for the Portguese. Arnaldo scored a hat-trick and Majó's two goals took Portugal's tally for the group to 22. Moldova beat Cyprus 2-1 to take second place ahead of the hosts.
