Drama as Futsal Cup begins

Tal Grig Yerevan were the big winners on the opening day of the 2005/06 UEFA Futsal Cup campaign, but victory against Roubaix Futsal came at a price, while hosts London White Bear FC gave experienced Dinamo Tirana a real scare.

Yerevan win
Armenian champions Yerevan were hot favourites to take one of the two first qualifying round place on offer in this preliminary mini-tournament, and sure enough cruised to a 7-2 victory against one-year-old French side Roubaix.

Gyulambaryan injury
However, Armen Gyulambaryan, Europe's most prolific Futsal scorer last season with 127 in all, was taken off during the game with a knee injury. Armen Danielyan, the reigning Armenian player of the year, scored twice, a tally matched by Roubaix's David Vieira.

Dinamo survive
In the previous match, Dinamo eked out a 2-1 victory against English debutants London. Ani Mullaj, who struck eight goals in this competition last season, gave Dinamo a half-time lead, and although Alexandre Topalo equalised just after the break for Olexandr Saliy's side, Mullaj was on target again to leave the Albanian team's campaign on course.

Sunday games
Fixtures continue on Sunday with London and Roubaix both aiming to get off the mark in the first game at Crystal Palace, and Dinamo taking on Yereven later in a match where the winners could well progress regardless of their third result on Tuesday.