Murcia arrive in style

El Pozo Murcia FS made a successful bow in the UEFA Futsal Cup with three comfortable Group 4 victories in the Amsterdam ArenA.

Murcia triumphant
Dutch hosts FC Marlène coverted the usual home of AFC Ajax into the Amsterdam ArenA Amphi, and fans were rewarded with some exciting matches. Murcia were beaten to the Spanish title by Boomerang Interviú FS, but still won entry to this competition as that side were also crowned European champions. And Murcia overcame the hosts 10-1 in the deciding match of this mini-tournament to take the one place on offer in the second qualifying round.

Teixeira Junior scores four
Murcia began their first European campaign as they meant to go on as they defeated Cypriot representatives AGBU Ararat Nicosia FC 10-1. Lenisio Teixeira Junior took just one minute to open the professional side's account, and added three more goals himself before the break, Kike scoring twice and Vinicius Elias Teixeira, Joel Queirós, Paulo Roberto Marqués Roris and Francisco Javier Sorrejón Sánchez also on target. Aleksandr Sarkisian claimed Ararat's only goal with his side already 7-0 down. Marlène then overcame MNK Karaka Mostar of Bosnia-Herzegovina 6-4, the home team leading by a three-goal margin on three occasions but never able to stretch that advantage.

Treble in vain
Karaka then saw any lingering hopes extinguished as they lost 5-2 to Murcia, Kike's hat-trick keeping the Spanish side on course. Marlène ensured a final-day showdown as they secured a 5-3 victory against Ararat, Sarkisian's treble proving in vain as veteran Anouk Roest struck twice before the break and Kenneth Goudmijn, Calvin Blankendal and Karim Ajnane added second-half goals.

Karaka consolation
With only third place at stake, Karaka and Ararat played out a final-day thriller, as the Bosnia-Herzegovnian side ended their tournament debut on a high as they edged to an 8-7 victory thanks to a four-goal burst early in the second half in which Dalibor Duvnjak scored twice and Husein Rebac and Vladimir Vladisavljevic both registered.

Decisive victory
However, there was no such suspense in the group decider, as Sorrejón Sánchez struck in the opening seconds for Murcia and Elias Teixeira added two more before the break. Although Cobeta's early second-half strike was matched by Marlène's Maximiliaan Tjaden - who then was shown the red card - the home team had no answer to a swift Marqués Roris treble, two from Portuguese striker Joel Queirós and a late effort by José Albar Manjón. Murcia now advance to meet the winners of Group 2, 6, and 8 in March's second qualifying round for a place in the following month's two-legged final.