UEFA Futsal Champions League semi-final round-up: Sporting into another decider | Futsal Champions League
Sporting CP are in their sixth UEFA Futsal Champions League final in seven years after beating Sporting Anderlecht Futsal 7-1.
The two-time champions had won five in seven minutes against the first-time semi-finalists in Palma de Mallorca and never looked back. Hosts Palma Futsal now meet Benfica for second place in Sunday’s decider.
Sporting are in a record round of 16, including the inaugural eight-team tournament in 2001/02, and in less than 200 seconds three were ahead of a club new to this stage. The opening two goals were both deep corners from Alex Merlim, who were volleyed, first by Diego Cavinato in his 50th European game, then by Tomás Paço, who hit the post in the first win. Gréllo, Anderlecht’s all-time top scorer, then hit the post but Merlim soon had his own goal, a nice long-range shot.
Sporting still pressed, Zicky hit the post and it was four when Pany Varela’s cross was converted into his own net by Edu. Another Sporting corner produced the fifth, Pany’s set piece, which was substituted on by Neves. The sixth was the best yet, Erick with an acrobatic volley to hit Merlim’s long ball.
Anderlecht’s Diogo was then the last to hit the wood against his former club and early in the second half Diogo Santos hit the crossbar for Sporting. Moments later, Anderlecht backed out as Dragan Tomić overcame his opponent, turned around and backed down to Franko Jelovčić. However, the score was 7-1 when a shot from Neves was deflected off Erick and went out of Diego Roncaglio’s reach.
key stat: João Matos became the first player to make 75 appearances in this competition as he reached his and Sporting’s seventh final after 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Nuno Dias, sports coach: “We were just amazing in the first half and you could say we decided the game in the first five or six minutes. I’m very happy with the way we played today and when we play like that it’s really, really hard to beat us .
“It’s the result of a lot of work and I think it’s silly when some people say now, and even last year, that this team’s cycle has come to an end. We are now in our sixth final in the last seven years. What else can we do?”
Alex Merlim, athletic goalscorer: “First of all, being able to play in a game like this is an amazing feeling. I never get tired of it. We did a great job today and fully deserve this result. We’ve worked very hard and when then you can put all that work on the pitch and get a result like we did, it feels really special.
“I’m happy for the team and also for all these great fans. I always say they support us in the same way at home and abroad. We still have some time to rest until Sunday and it really doesn’t matter who we play against. Our goal is to win the trophy no matter what.”
Luca Cragnaz, Anderlecht coach: “It was always difficult against a team like Sporting, but when you concede four early goals it becomes impossible. Their quality is just amazing and if you don’t play at your best, that’s what you get. We tried everything but today wasn’t our day.
“We have to commend Sporting for the way they played. We managed to stop Barça but today was very different. It’s a learning experience for the team and we have to take something positive out of it somehow. It there’s still a bronze medal up for grabs.” Sunday and it would be really important for everyone at the club if we could do that.”
Gréllo, Anderlecht captain: “What can I say? We faced one of the best, if not the best, team in the world and we were four down within five minutes. After that the game was pretty much decided but we did our best and had our chances .
“Sporty are on a different level and maybe we paid a bit the price of playing in a less competitive league. Still, we have to keep our heads up and even more because we have another game in two days and the opportunity to redeem it ourselves.”
report follows.