Luxol through to UEFA Futsal Champions League main round

Luxol St. Andrews beat hosts Sjarmtrollan 8-3, a result that means the Maltese Champions advance to the Main Round of this UEFA Futsal Champions League to be played in the second week of October in Prague, Czech Republic.

It was no an easy path for the Maltese outfit in Tromso as they had to work their socks off against strong opposition to make it through, following a rather walk in the park in first game won 5-0 over FC Fiorentino where Luxol could have easily scored more goals. In fact, the other two matches were really demanding and only the resilience of the team led superbly by coach Gabriel Dobre and his assistant Chris Cope propelled this amazing achievement of Preliminary Round Qualification for the third summer on the bounce for Maltese Futsal, after Luxol’s feat two years ago, followed with Valletta’s achievement, also reaching the same target a summer ago.

Milos Vucenovic put the home side in front inside the first minute, Luxol levelled soon after through Leanderson with Luxol taking lead for the first time through Everton Veve after 8 minutes in the first half.

Now Luxol were cruising and 53 seconds later Maicon increased the lead for the Maltese Champions.

Five minutes from the interval, Slovenian Dejan Bizjak made it four with an accurate 10-metre shot beating Norwegian keeper Vik, before Celino Alves emulated his fellow Brazilians in the Luxol team with the fifth 90 seconds from half-time.

There was still time nonetheless for Milos Vucenovic scoring his brace to end this nail-biting first half that produced seven goals.

Six minutes into the second half, Milos Vucenovic completed his hat-trick with a fine finish beating his counterpart Kenneth Rakvaag in the Maltese goal.

Soon after Vucenovic was given a straight red card after a horrible foul on Leanderson an incident that prompted a heated moment with the situation calming down immediately.

The sending off for the Norwegians gave the Maltese Champions the upper hand and Maicon also scored his hat-trick with two goals in quick succession five minutes from the end.

Now Luxol St.Andrews were cruising and with a delightful lob from way outside the goal, Dejan Bizjak scored his second in the game and number eight for his side.

LUXOL Kenneth Rakvaag, Dejan Bizjak (2), Celino Alves (1), Zvezdan Vukovic, Emil Raducu.
Also in action: Dragan Obradovic, Nick Delre, Everton Veve(1), GianCarlo Sammut, Mark Zammit (capt), Maicon (3), Andy Mangion, Leanderson (1), Marwan


SJARMTROLLAN Vik, Vucenovic, Milos Vucenovic (3), Schjetne (capt), Simonsen.
Also in action: Rydeng, Maehle, Eggen, Johnsen, Fossli, Jorgensen, Allertsen, Waage.