Azeris outdo Czechs to clinch group
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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Azerbaijan 6-1 Czech Republic
Alesio's finals debutants roared into the last eight as Group A winners with Biro Jade and Vitaliy Borisov scoring twice each.
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Azerbaijan's stealth attack on the UEFA European Futsal Championship title claimed its second victims in Group A, with a 6-1 defeat of the Czech Republic handing them a Monday quarter-final tie in Budapest against the runners-up in Group B as section winners.
Czech quicksand
With captain Martín Dlouhý surprisingly absent for their opening game, the Czech Republic came out to attack, Zdeněk Sláma hitting the post with Andrey Tveryankin grounded early on. However, they quickly found the game slipping away from them as Azerbaijan followed up their 3-1 defeat of Hungary on Tuesday with an even more emphatic win.
Early goals
In the third minute, Serjão's lofted ball compelled Biro Jade to volley home from inside the box before Vitaliy Borisov appropriated Sláma's wayward pass to race through and beat Tomáš Meller in the Czech goal. Inviting Tomáš Neumann's side to come at them, Azerbaijan made it 3-0 in the eleventh minute, the quietly impressive Rizvan Farzaliyev ghosting through his marker on the right touchline before crossing for Serjão to slam home. A fourth came four minutes after the break, sturdy Serjão with his back to goal calmly teeing up Thiago to rifle home between two defenders.
Rešetár strike
The Czech Republic did not give up though, and while Lukaš Rešetár's nerve deserted him as he bore down on Tveryankin – passing when he should have shot – he made amends, hammering an angled effort into the Azeri goal from the left flank to inject some belief back into his side. For a moment it looked like they might have a chance of getting back into it, but when Alves picked out Borisov to score his second of the night, the dark clouds descended once more.
Fifth foul
Having committed their fifth foul of the half, the Czech Republic were walking on eggshells for the latter stages, with Biro Jade duly scoring from the spot from Azerbaijan's first double penalty. However there were no further goals, and while Alesio's side will return to the Papp László Arena on Monday, the Czech Republic now must defeat hosts Hungary in their final game on Saturday to earn a last-eight trip to Debrecen as Group A runners-up.