Shakhtar shock the holders
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Article summary
Action 21 Charleroi 1-4 FC Shakhtar Donetsk Charleroi face a huge battle to retain the UEFA Futsal Cup following Shakhtar's impressive win.
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Action 21 Charleroi face a huge battle to retain the UEFA Futsal Cup after FC Shakhtar Donetsk comfortably defeated the holders in their opening second qualifying round Group B match in Belgrade.
Shakhtar ahead
Ambitious Shakhtar had said before the game that they could upset the Belgian giants, but had to withstand an early storm as Alex and Chico missed early chances. Shakhtar punished them in the eighth minute with their first chance, as Fedir Pylypiv went on a solo run and shot in from 12 metres out.
Alex goal
Charleroi remained on the attack, but Shakhtar were resolute in defence and swift on the counter, and Oleg Miroshnyk doubled the lead. Charleroi were lacking the killer pass, but were able to pull one back with three minutes of the first half remaining when Lúcio Rosa crossed and captain Alex found the target.
Charleroi denied
The holders began strongly after the break, with fine passing combinations. They found Vladyslav Kornyeyev in superb form in the Shakhtar goal, heroics which spurred the Ukrainian side on to victory which two goals coming in the 32nd minute. First Igor Moskvychov and captain Ramis Mansurov set up Pylypiv, and then Miroshnyk made it 4-1 on the counter.
'Must change something'
Now Charleroi must at least avoid defeat on Monday when they meet the team they beat in last season's final, MFK Dinamo Moskva, who were held 4-4 by group hosts KMF Marbo Beograd today. Charleroi coach Sergio Benatti said: "We must change something, that's clear. But what? I will be thinking about that overnight. We still have a chance to go through, but we must be much, much better. We lost concentration at the most important points of this match."
One win away
Shakhtar play Beograd knowing victory would take them into the semi-finals. Coach Oleg Solodovnyk said: "We had so much respect for the European champions. We still have it, but we beat them because we believed we could. I know that we played very defensively. Sometimes tactics are more important than the names of the players."