Route to the final: Boomerang

Boomerang Interviú's hold on the UEFA Futsal Cup was ended last year in a dramatic second qualifying round match at Action 21 Charleroi, when the Belgian side equalised in the last seconds to go through on goal difference and eventually lift the trophy. The Spanish champions had won the other five games in their campaign, scoring a total of 39 goals, so it was no surprise that many expected them to take back the title this time.

Skopje seen off
Kicking off the first qualifying round in Italy, Boomerang showed their steely side as they topped Group 7 without conceding in a pool reduced to three teams by the late withdrawal of Moldova's FC Camelot Chisinau. Boomerang started against KMF Alfa Parf Skopje of F.Y.R. Macedonia and five first-half goals helped them to a 6-0 win, Luis managing a hat-trick.

Perugia miss out
Pool hosts Erregi Travel Perugia then defeated Skopje 11-1, meaning they only needed a draw against Boomerang. But the Spanish side, led as ever by the supremely successful coach Jesús Candelas, prevailed 3-0 with two goals from Neto and one by Gabriel, all in the first half.

Goalscoring feats
The second qualifying round brought a return to Lisbon's Pavilhão do Luz, where Boomerang had lifted the UEFA Futsal Cup in 2004 after their second leg against SL Benfica. The Portuguese side awaited on Matchday 3, but first came Belgium's Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz, and perhaps with last year's result against their compatriots Charleroi in mind, it was an uncharitable Boomerang team that raced to an 11-0 victory. Joan, Julio, Andreu and Kiki all scored twice, Gabirel, Marquinho and Luis claimed the other goals.

First place secure
Their next opponents, Kairat Almaty, had held Benfica 3-3 in their first game, but Boomerang were in irresistible form. Daniel made it 1-0 on two minutes and although Alexander Bondarev swiftly equalised, Marquinho, Luis, Andreu and Joan all scored before half-time. Neto pulled a goal back on 27 minutes, but the 5-2 win took Boomerang through as guaranteed Group A winners following Benfica's 1-1 draw with Morlanwelz.

Comeback
Therefore the last game was more important to Benfica then Boomerang, as the home team knew they had to win once Kairat beat Morlanwelz 5-1 in the early match. André Lima and Pica Pau made it 2-0 to Benfica on five minutes, but Boomerang soon got into gear. Schumacher, back from injury and suspension, pulled one back on 12 minutes and Joan then equalised. Marquinho put Boomerang in front early in the second half and Andreu sealed the 4-2 victory a minute from the end.

Shakhtar shaken
FC Shakhtar Donetsk finished runners-up in Group B ahead of Action 21 Charleroi and so Ukraine was Boomerang's destination in the first leg of their semi-final. And they did not let up on the goalscoring, Joan making it 1-0 on nine minutes and Andreu adding two more before the break. Marquinho, Neto and Joan then increased the scoreline before Serhiy Sytin's late goal.

Comprehensive result
The Madrid return was a formality, especially after Schumacher scored on three and seven minutes. Gabriel soon made it 3-0, and although Ramis Mansurov pulled one back, Marquinho and Joan then helped themselves to goals before the interval. Yevgen Yunakov and Igor Moskvychov scored in the second-half but the aggregate result was a comprehensive 11-4.