Kairat edge out Benfica to claim third place
Sunday, May 1, 2011
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Kairat Almaty 3-3 SL Benfica (Kairat win 5-3 on pens)
The tournament hosts claimed the consolation of third place with a shoot-out win after an exciting draw with the deposed champions.
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Kairat Almaty claimed the consolation of third place at the UEFA Futsal Cup finals in Kazakhstan with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out win after an exciting 3-3 draw with SL Benfica.
The tournament hosts were pushed all the way for their bronze medal, however, after the first-half lead given them by Leo Santana and Sidnei Silva was overturned by strikes from Benfica's Joel Queirós, Gonçalo and César Paulo. Kairat equalised late on through Felipe, then prevailed on spot kicks thanks to Anderson's penalty after Marinho's miss for the outgoing champions.
João Carlos Barbosa's valiant team duly equalised their third-place finish of 2009 while sending Paulo Fernandes's men home empty-handed.
Santana – whose two goals had revived Kairat in the semi-final – also ended the early stalemate here, being perfectly placed for an easy finish after Anderson's surge and centre. And just as Benfica's pressure was building, Sidnei doubled the lead on a one-man counterattack, seizing on a misplaced pass to burst forward and slot past Bébé.
Undeterred, Benfica cut the deficit as Joel Queirós, this competition's 12-goal top scorer last season, punished Kairat indiscipline with a cool ten-metre penalty. Pedro Costa twice threatened to level matters though was denied by magnificent Santana blocks before Kakata cleared off the line.
Joel fluffed his lines at the beginning of the second period, yet when his next attempt was parried by Jeronimo, Gonçalo turned in the equaliser. Kairat then gained the initiative from Davi's red card, leaving Benfica a man short for two minutes. However, the Portuguese side emerged unscathed from the ensuing game of cat and mouse. When the scenario was reversed, after home captain Kelson received a second yellow card, César Paulo's deflected strike put the visitors ahead.
If Kairat missed the inspiration of Kelson as they chased their own third goal, Lady Luck filled in as another deflection, from Felipe's shot, restored parity. Sidnei subsequently hit the underside of the crossbar, yet penalties would decide the outcome.
