Futsal final four nearly resolved

The group stage of the first UEFA Futsal Cup is approaching its conclusion with the leading contenders looking ahead to the semi-finals and beyond.

All to play for
In Group A, hosts Sporting Clube de Portugal and MNK Split 1700 both have four points at the top of the standings but AS Roma still have a chance of qualifying for the last four. Thursday's most intriguing match will see Sporting take on Roma, with the home crowd in Lisbon's Pavilhão Atlântico cheering on the Portuguese team. A draw would be enough for Sporting but Roma will need a win while Split will be favourites to take all three points from their match against MNK Kaskada Gracanica.

Split still solid
Although the eight sides all knew little about each other before the tournament began on Monday, all will now be aware of Split's strong showing in defence. The Croatian team are riding the crest of a wave having gone 80 minutes without conceding in their first two matches. Split captain Alen Delpont captured the excitement within his team. "I am very lucky and feel very glad to be here," he said. "It is a special honour for me to be captain of this team and we have achieved so much."

Spanish favourties
Group B is more clear-cut. Both Playas de Castellón and Action 21 Charleroi have already made it through to the semi-finals, being played on Friday, although they will meet tomorrow to decide who tops the table. Spanish team Castellón, with 9-0 and 7-1 victories to their name already, are the favourites to win the trophy and boast the top scorer so far in 26-year-old attacker Joan who has seven goals. Another impressive performer has been Brazilian wonder Vander Carioca and he underlined the need to make it three wins from three. "We want to qualify in first place although it will be a tougher match. Our objective now is to make it to the final."

Aiming for final victory
For the other two sides in Group B, Clearex-Chorzów and CSÖ-Montage Budapest, their meeting may be academic after two defeats each but both are keen to finish on a high. Chorzów coach Andrzej Antos summed it up. "Certainly we will try to win. It would be an honour for us to end this tournament with a victory," he said.