Spain too strong for Ukraine

By Greg Demetriou at the CEZ Arena

World champions Spain have booked their place in the final of the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship against Russia with a comfortable victory against Ukraine.

Too strong
Javier Lozano's were too strong for their opponents in this repeat of the 2001 European Championship final, when the southern Europeans were 2-1 winners after extra time. Spain had reached the last four here by finishing second in Group B while Ukraine topped Group A, although both teams had achieved two wins and a defeat.

Tired team
Spain were again without Marcelo, whose thigh injury may well keep him out of Sunday's showpiece. However, goalkeeper Luis Amado was back after being rested for their largely academic 3-1 defeat by Italy last night. The Ukrainians were at full strength, but would no doubt be the more tired after yesterday's gruelling 2-1 victory against Russia when they could not afford to relax.

Cagey start
It was quickly apparent that Ukraine were content to let their opponents have plenty of possession, either a legacy of the previous evening or a tactical move designed to conserve energy for a hoped-for late push on the Spanish rearguard. Spain were the first to go for goal, with Kike and then Javi Rodríguez working Olexiy Popov.

No luck
Ukraine's Serhiy Koridze would try his luck three times in the half but was denied on each occasion, however, a more clear-cut occasion came when Fedir Pylypiv found himself in front of goal but unable to convert. Spain were maintaining their pressure.

Injury worry
There was a scare for Spain with seven minutes gone when Vitaliy Brunko caught Javi Rodríguez. The No7 stayed down for several seconds before limping out, clutching his right ankle. He would stay out of the action for a third of the half, but while Lozano was content to change things around, Gennadiy Lysenchuk was giving the majority of minutes to his starting five.

Deadlock broken
The deadlock was finally broken on nine minutes when Andreu, one of those Spanish substitutes, played the ball into Alberto Cogorro, who spun his marker before passing back to the on-rushing Andreu to smash into the net. Ukraine would have few moments in the rest of the first half, but Valeriyi Zamyatin did go close with one drive.

Resistance broken
Zamyatin was unlucky again soon after the restart, a goalbound effort nearly trickling through Amado's legs but there was to be no more resistance. The crucial second came when Kike lofted the ball goalwards and Daniel's intervention confused Popov. Seconds later it was 3-0 when Popov came out to clear but succeeded only in firing the ball off Fran Serrejón and into the net.

More goals
The No4 had a second within three minutes, dinking it over the helpless Popov. With Popov off to create the extra man, Ukraine were stretched and Andreu finished what he started in the 37th minute. Ukraine now meet Italy in the third-place match in a repeat of the 2003 final on Sunday, before the main event.

Starting lineup
Ukraine: Olexiy Popov, Serhiy Koridze, Olexiy Kudlay, Serhiy Sytin and Fedir Pylypiv.
Spain: Luis Amado, Javier Orol, Javi Rodríguez, Kike and Daniel.