Thrilling start to season

AC Omonia, KS Flamurtari, BGA Futsal and Vegakameratene were the winners on the opening day of the UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary round.

Two of the seven mini-tournaments that will run until Sunday 21 August began today and there was excitement in Group G in Cyprus, where hosts Omonia came back from three down to beat debutants Paris Sporting Club 5-4. Experienced Brazilian player Betinho struck twice to put Paris in control, Luiz Aranha Soares made it three just past the break and it could have been more had they not hit the woodwork several times. But Omonia, spearheaded by captain Manolis Manoli, fought their way back and, although Betinho completed a hat-trick late on, it was not enough.

Albania's KS Flamurtari, who meet Omonia on Sunday, top the group after overcoming Erebuni Yerevan 5-1. Erebuni actually dominated possession but were frustrated by a defence marshalled by Zoran Zariç and Famurtari were deadly on the counter.

In Group D, both games finished 5-3. First to win were Denmark's BGA against Icelandic debutants Fjölnir, who were always struggling after a fine start inspired by Mikkel Kjaer and Espen Bidstrup. Hosts MFC Varna then fell to Norwegian newcomers Vegakameratene in a thrilling game in which only the woodwork and goalkeeper Kenneth Rakvaag kept the Bulgarian side to 2-2 at the break.

After the interval, Christian Klaussen made it 3-2 and, once Viktor Viktorov was sent off, Håvard Solem extended the lead and Jan Are Klaussen added another. Boycho Marev pulled one back but missed a hat-trick chance from a double penalty. On Sunday, BGA play Vegakameratene and Varna meet Fjölnir, while Group E begins in Vienna.