Luxol had to work their socks off to beat a very strong and stubborn Dinamo Chisinau 5-3 in the second match from Group F of the UEFA Futsal Champions League Preliminary Round Group F match at the Tromsøhallen in Tromsø, Norway to edge closer to qualification to the next phase of competition.
In fact, a draw on Saturday against hosts Sjarmtrollan would be enough to steer them towards their coveted target.
The first half was pretty balanced with Luxol only scoring once but in the second half, the Maltese outfit looked sharper passing the ball and the players were finding each other better. However, towards the end, they lacked some concentration allowing their resilient opponents to score twice.
In the early stages, the game was balanced reflecting the importance of this encounter with Brazilian Everton Veve most lively for the Maltese side with a couple of good chances but rather inaccurate and not clinical enough in his finishing.
Luxol took the lead after 9 minutes and 15 seconds into the first period, a swift counter attack saw Maicon Silva receiving a delightful pass before flicking the ball into the net from close range to beat Moldova keeper Istrati.
Chisinau reacted swiftly but the Maltese outfit defended brilliantly with powerful Kenneth Rakvaag always outstanding was yet again brilliant in goal.
Twenty nine seconds into the second half, Luxol doubled their lead with a blazing shot from an acute angle by Celino Alves, like Maicon scoring his personal second in the tournament.
As in the first game, Luxol showed their strength at the start of second period, another fast move (1:18) ended with a blistering run by Emil Andrei Raducu before firing a powerful shot in the top corner to make the score 3-0, just 49 seconds between the second and third Luxol goal.
3:16 into the second half Chisinau pulled a goal back through Cherniavskyi, the first goal conceded by the Maltese champions in this Group F.
Luxol completed their win with two more goals, fourth when another rapid counter attack saw Everton Vevé stepping inside and with a cool finish finding the net, two minutes from the end Dejan Bizjak sealed it with a powerful low freekick from distance.
The final seconds of the match saw Luxol losing some sharpness allowing Dinamo Chisinau to score twice through Bagriak and Kalukov to make the final score Luxol 5-3 Chisinau.
On Saturday, Luxol play the final game against Sjarmtrollan of Norway who in their first game on Wednesday drew 2-2 with Dinamo Chisinau.
LUXOL Kenneth Rakvaag, Celino Alves (1), Maicon (1), Leanderson, Emil Raducu (1).
Also in action :- Dragan Obradovic, Dejan Bizjak (1), Nick Delre, Everton Veve (1), GianCarlo Sammut, Mark Zammit (capt), Andy Mangion, Marwan Telisi, Zvezdan Vukovic.
CHISINAU Istrati, Negara, Bondarenko, Nicololaiciuc, Fil.
Also in action :- Capsamun, Coceban, Marzhanovskiy, Kalukov (1), Cherniavskyi (1), Bondarenko, Bagriak (1), Deliatynskyi.