Azerbaijan crash opening-night party
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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Hungary 1-3 Azerbaijan
Goals from Biro Jade, Serjão and Alves confirmed the strength of Alesio's Brazilian-born talents as the hosts lost in Budapest.
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A stunning display of football acrobatics starring pianist Adam György and freestyle maestro Séan kicked off the UEFA European Futsal Championship, but it was finals debutants Azerbaijan who dazzled on the pitch, defeating Hungary 3-1 in their opening Group A game.
Neat touch
The hosts were hit with a sucker punch within a minute, Felipe's kick-in finding the unmarked Biro Jade, who drove home from distance, but Hungary soon struck back, Tamás Lódi's neat touch diverting Zsolt Gyurcsányi's fiercely-struck free-kick past Andrey Tveryankin. Zoltán Balász was to be the busier goalkeeper thereafter though, with Biro Jade and the similarly hirsute Thiago pulling Mihály Kozma's side all over the pitch.
Final score
Balász made a fine stop to deny Thiago on eight minutes, but had no chance four minutes later, man-mountain Serjão lifting the ball into an empty net after the goalkeeper had saved another long-range Biro Jade missile. Lódi smashed the ball into the side netting shortly afterwards, prompting mistaken celebrations from the lively home crowd, but Azerbaijan were to score again before the break, Alves spinning in from the touchline to coolly beat Balász.
Crown jewels
Azerbaijan took their crown jewels off display for the first part of the second half, with Thiago and Biro Jade used more sparingly. Their threat only diminished slightly, Felipe heading against the bar following a free-kick at one end before Zoltán Dróth rattled Tveryankin's goal frame with a shot at the other. With the deadly duo restored, Balász did brilliantly to lift Gyurcsányi's misguided defensive touch over the bar.
Flying goalkeeper
With four minutes to go, Kozma sent on Janós Trencsényi as a flying goalkeeper for the first time, with his first meaningful contribution being a useful save to deny Thiago, with János Madarász and Lódi then both miscuing as a teasing ball from the left exposed the hitherto rock-solid Azerbaijani rearguard. That was to be the last meaningful action as Alesio's men confirmed their pre-tournament billing as thoroughbred dark horses.