Charleroi leave it late to qualify

Two goals in the last three minutes gave Action 21 Charleroi a 3-3 draw that allowed them to pip UEFA Futsal Cup hosts Clearex Chorzów to the final four.

Andre saves Charleroi
Charleroi, European champions in 2004/05, lead Chorzów on goal difference at kick-off, meaning the home side needed a win to top Group C in front of 1,800 fans at the Hala MORIS. It began well for Chorzów as Krzysztof Kusia struck on eleven minutes and Krzysztof Marzec added another soon after. On the stroke of half-time Jhonny Van Melkebeke pulled on back but when Andrzej Szlapa made it 3-1 in the 37th minute, it seemed Charleroi - who nearly went under with financial problems this summer - were out. But instantly Zico reduced arrears and with one minute left Andre equalised to give Charleroi the point they needed.

Beograd consolation
It was a tough blow for Chorzów, who against Araz Naxçivan on Matchday 1 also led 3-1 late on, with Marzec and Kusia on target, only to concede twice. Charleroi, meanwhile, had repeated the trick of their title-winning season, when the Belgian side struck a last-gasp equaliser to edge past Boomerang Interviú to reach the final. In the earlier match, neither Araz nor KMF Marbo Beograd could qualify but the consolation of third place went to the Serbian club. Rizvan Farzaliyev gave Araz a tenth-minute lead but late in the first half Zoran Dimić and Borko Surudžič turned the game on its head and Igor Šošo clinched victory with three minutes left.

Holders in control
Boomerang are one point from joining Charleroi, MFK Dinamo Moskva and El Pozo Murcia FS in the final four after a 6-0 defeat of MNK Split in Group A in Verona. Julio, Marquinho and Gabriel struck in the first half and Schumacher, Marquinho and Edgar Bertoni extended the lead after the break. The holders now have a Sunday showdown with Italian hosts Arzignano Grifo C/5, who also secured their second win but trail Boomerang on goal difference as they beat Czech champions CC LKW Jistebnik 3-2. Danilo scored on 14 and 22 minutes to put Arzignano in control but Marcal Ziga and René Kovarik drew the scores level. With three minutes left, though, Danilo completed his hat-trick to confirm the result.