Futsal Cup preliminary round gets under way
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
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There was a sizeable UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary round opening night victory for Futsal Topsport Antwerpen, while English debutants Helvécia Futsal London also triumphed.
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On the opening night of the UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary round, Futsal Topsport Antwerpen secured a sizeable triumph against Scotland's FC Santos, while English debutants Helvécia Futsal London kicked off their campaign with victory against Edro Vlorë.
Amar Zouggaghi was the star man for Antwerpen in their Group D opener, scoring ten goals in an 18-0 success. Section hosts Paris Sporting Club also won their first game, the French side coming from 3-1 down against Hamburg Panthers to run out 6-3 victors thanks to two Betinho goals and one from Juan Lopez Daza.
Helvécia are one of 14 debutants in the seven preliminary round groups and they got their challenge off to a winning start with a 2-1 scoreline earned by strikes from Raoni Medina and Lucas Ferras. Lidselmash Lida top Group B, though, after notching four first-half goals in a convincing 6-1 defeat of København Futsal.
It was also a night to remember for KMF Leotar Trebinje who put nine past Group A rivals Balzan Youths FC. The only draw of the evening came in Group E where Maccabi Nahalat Itzhak and Shahumyan shared six goals. Norwegian team Vegakameratene sit atop that section after a 4-2 triumph against Andorra's FC Encamp. In Group C, meanwhile, 1. FC Allstars Wiener Neustadt and EID Futsal were also victorious.
Fixtures in these pools continue on Thursday when Group G also begins in Skopje. The winners of each group progress to the main round early next month, with the draw already made.
Main round (4-9 September)
Group 1: Luparense C/5 (ITA), Slov-Matic Bratislava (SVK), AC Omonia Nicosia (CYP)*, winner preliminary round Group F
Group 2: KMF Ekonomac Kragyjevac (SRB), Nikars Riga (LVA)*, winner preliminary round Group E, winner preliminary round Group G
Group 3: FK EP Chrudim (CZE)*, City'US Târgu Mures (ROU), SK Energia Lviv (UKR), winner preliminary round Group A
Group 4: Iberia Star Tbilisi (GEO), Athina '90 (GRE), FC Litija (SVN)*, winner preliminary round Group D
Group 5: MFK Dinamo Moskva (RUS), MNK Split (CRO)*, winner preliminary round Group B
Group 6: Araz Naxçivan (AZE), CF Eindhoven (NED), ETO FC Győr (HUN)*, winner preliminary round Group C
Bye to elite round (9-14 October)
FC Barcelona (ESP, holders), SL Benfica (POR), Murcia FS (ESP), Kairat Almaty (KAZ)
