Winning start for Split

MNK Split 1700 were deserved 2-0 winners over AS Roma on Monday in the opening match of the first UEFA Futsal Cup.

Solid defence
The Croatian team scored twice in the second half to take an early lead in Group A. Goals from Pjer Malvasija and Alen Delpont, the latter a former Roma player, secured the victory, but for a long time it looked as if the tournament curtain-raiser in Lisbon would end goalless.

Lack of edge
Roma had plenty of flair, particularly through their two imports, Brazilian Junior and Argentinian Leandro Miguel Planas, but lacked an end product. The South American duo looked dangerous whenever they got the ball near the Split goal but they were up against a solid defence who gave little away.

Disciplined display
Aside from an early booking for Ivica Podrug, who was commanding throughout, it was a disciplined display from Split. Their patience finally told with barely eight minutes remaining, Nikola Tomicic surging down the left, leaving two Roma players behind. He slipped the ball inside to Ivica Osibov, who in turn found Malvasija three metres out. Roma goalkeeper Massimo Rinaldi could do nothing about Malvasija’s powerful strike and Split never looked back.

Victory sealed
Split captain Delpont sealed victory three seconds from time by shooting into an empty net from distance with Roma having sacrificed their goalkeeper for all-out attack. Split march on but the Italian team, who saw Massimo Riscino hit the bar after five minutes, find themselves needing a win in their next match to keep their qualification hopes alive.