Charleroi take trophy to Belgium

The Brazilian-tinged Action 21 Charleroi had proved the strongest non-Spanish side over the first three seasons of the UEFA Futsal Cup and it was they who became the only team to take the trophy out of the Iberian nation in 2004/05.

The format remained unchanged, but absent for the first time were the winners of the inaugural two editions, Playas de Castellón FS. Boomerang Interviú had taken their title in 2003/04 and the Madrid club, their Spanish counterparts ElPozo Murcia FS and two-time runners-up Charleroi all cruised through the first qualifying round, as did Sporting Clube de Portugal, who had taken their national title off the previous season's European finalists SL Benfica, and MFK Dinamo Moskva.

Dinamo had slipped up on their competition debut the year before against the Netherlands' KVV West Stars but managed 36 goals in the first stage this time and were to host second qualifying round Group B. It quickly became clear it was a two-horse race as on Matchday 1 Dinamo beat FC Shakhtar Donetsk 6-2 with a Cirilio hat-trick and Murcia overcame FC Dorozhnik Minsk 8-0 with four Paulo Roberto goals. Two days later Murcia repeated that scoreline against Shakhtar, taking their European record to five wins and 41 goals, while Dinamo beat Minsk 10-6 thanks to a second-half Joan hat-trick keeping the Belarussian side at bay. Dinamo needed victory against Murcia to reach the final, and although Lenisio struck just before half-time to cancel out Sergei Ivanov's eleventh-minute goal, Sergey Malychev and Cirilo scored just after the break and Dinamo never lost the lead as they hung on to win 5-4.

Group A was staged by Charleroi and again it was the host club and a Spanish side, Interviú, who were dominant. The holders began by beating KMN Svea Lesna Litija 3-0 and Charleroi overcame Sporting 7-4. A day later Interviú trailed at half-time but defeated Sporting 4-3; Charleroi won 3-1 aqainst Lilija to go ahead on goal difference. Charleroi now only needed a draw against Interviú and took a 32nd-minute lead through Kelson. However, Neto levelled five minutes later and with one minute left Gabriel put the holders in front. They seemed to be through, but Lúcio Rosa had other ideas and struck a dramatic equaliser to delight a crowd of more than 6,000.

Belgian fans were out in force again at the Spiroudôme for the first leg of the final, and were thrilled as Charleroi led 4-1 at half-time, the scoreline having gone from 0-0 to 3-1 between the start of the eleventh and end of the 12th minute. However, Pelé Junior and Konstantin Maevskiy pulled the score back to 4-3, setting up a fascinating second leg, which was to prove one of the most thrilling deciders in the sport's history.

Ivanov put Dinamo ahead on away goals after just three minutes but two Alex strikes swung the game Charleroi's way at the break. Joan and Olexiy Kudlay put Dinamo in front again in the second half, André Vanderlei struck for Charleroi and then with two minutes left, Ivanov sent the game to extra time. Charleroi scored first through Henrique, but Joan and Cirilo put Dinamo ahead at the interval. However, in the last two minutes Kelson gave Charleroi the away-goals lead and then Eder added to that as the Belgian side took the trophy 10-9 on aggregate.