Inter Movistar deny Sporting CP of a first UEFA Futsal Cup

Sporting CP missed out in the UEFA Futsal Cup to last year's runner-up, Inter Movistar, by a harsh result of 7-0 this Sunday afternoon. It was a punishing scoreline, that barely reflected Sporting CP's performance on the day and the Alvalade side's campaign.

The first opportunity came right from the off, with Cavinato pulling a save out of Herrero for a corner. A couple of seconds later Merlim drove a powerful shot just wide. Referee Sasa Tomic was also in the spotlight on occasions, with a handful of debatable decisions including a yellow card for Merlim in the third minute for a foul on Ricardinho. It was from once such decision that Inter threatened for the first time, but Fortino scrambled the ball away off the line. A couple of seconds later Sporting CP accumulated their third foul of the first-half.

On six minutes Humberto acrobatically controlled down the right and Marcão did well to charge down the resulting shot, however the Brazilian pivot managed to get a pass across the face of goal for Bastezini to tap in. Two five saves from Marcão to deny Rivillos followed, before Lolo doubled Inter's lead five minutes before the break.

At 2-0 Sporting CP were certainly still in with a chance of getting back into the encounter, however the Inter goalkeeper was in frustratingly brilliant form to keep the Alvalade charges off the scoreboard. The Spaniards quickly netted another two and Nuno Dias hand was forced into introducing Merlim as a forward goalkeeper with just over quarter of an hour still to play. The risks were obvious, but it was a necessary gamble that harshly backfired with three goals from Inter from range (one from Rivillos and two from Ricardinho).

Former Karat star Leo appeals to Kazahs to come out in force

Leo was the player to join Nuno Dias in the pre-match press conference ahead of the UEFA Futsal Cup final this weekend, which will see Sporting CP take on Inter Movistar in the city where Leo reached stardom.

"I hope that the two titles I won with Kairat will help us have a great final and we are feeling confident. This will be a different match with different challenges, but hopefully we will be just as happy at the end and hopefully I personally will be as happy with Sporting CP as I was with Kairat in this situation. I would really like to see the Kazakh people come out and support us, for Sporting CP and for me."

Nuno Dias looks ahead to Sunday's UEFA Futsal Cup final

Nuno Dias and Jesus Velasco were both in the Almaty Arena press room this Saturday, ahead od Sunday's UEFA Futsal Cup showdown. Dias started by congratulating the Inter Movistar coach on reaching the final for a second consecutive season, having missed out last season on home soil again this year's host's Kairat.

"We sat up last night doing a bit of analysis. Ugra rely on using their pivots, with strong players who are really tough in the individual battle. Tactically Inter are a lot more mobile and they get around the court more. They are really aggressive in defence and have some well drilled tactics. Both semi-finals were identical, with both finalists winning by a single goal. This is going to be a really balanced game, although the odds are on for Inter, who have already won this competition three times. They are top of the league considered as the best in the world", said Nuno Dias.

Although faced by an almost terrifyingly brilliant Inter side, Nuno Dias sees his side's spirit and unity as the key to claiming the silverware: "The spirit amongst the lads has been fantastic during this competition. We are in great form right now and enjoying what is the best club competition in the world. What makes the difference could be something just like what happened in the semi-final. There will be moments when Sporting CP is better and others when Inter is. Everything will depend on if we can come together and suffer together when we have to. We will have to defend with everything we have got and surprise Inter when we can."

Although representing Alvalade, Leo continues to be a legend in Almaty

Leo took a moment to speak with the press after his side's UEFA Futsal Cup semi-final win this Friday, after receiving a memorable reception from the home crowd.

"We played really well against the European champion. We defended well against their strengths and they didn't know what to do. We took advantage of our opportunities and I really think we deserve to be in the final. We have been working hard since the start of the season to get where we are now. I thought we stood firm in defence."

Speaking about a fantastic applause from the home crowd, Leo added: "It was great. To play in front of the fans here and for them to show much love for me and Sporting CP was something I really wanted to happen."

Merlim's moment of magic wins Man of the Match award

It is always the smallest of details which makes the difference when giants clash and that is exactly what happened in the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals, when Merlim unlocked the scoreboard with a superb turn of skill.

"I got lucky. I beat my defender, but I think we dominated the whole game. Normally when you are in the lead you can relax a bit in terms of marking, but we did exactly the opposite. We carried on pushing and that was essential", said Merlim, adding a word on his Man of the Match award: "It is nice and every player likes it, but what matters most is the win for the team. Without my teammates I wouldn't have won it."

The Sporting CP winger finished with his analysis of Sunday's opposition, Inter Movistar: "I think we had to get into the final, but the lads deserve a pat on the back. We played at the very top of our game today and we don't want to stop now. We can't be happy just because we are in the final. It was always going to be a hard final, no matter who it was against. The four best teams in Europe are here. We will study Inter Movistar as much as we can to get ready."

Nuno Dias relaxed in the press room after inspiring his side to the UEFA Futsal Cup final

Nuno Dias was surprisingly calm in the Almaty Arena press room, analysing how his side got the better of the reigning European champions.

“It was a balanced game, but a fair win. The players showed an extraordinary attitude, but all of the best changes were ours. We have to give credit to Ugra of course, because they really tired us out. I told the players that they are exactly what a team should be and it is privilege to be part of this group. The key was in the quality and unity of the squad. We took our chances and stood together. Now the lads deserve a rest", said Dias.

The Sporting CP coach went on to elaborate on what made the difference: "Look at the example of the first goal, with Merlim dribbling past his opponent. After that we blocked the game out in defence, against three world class Pivots. Leo was really good."

Nuno Dias' side secure place in the UEFA Futsal Cup final with a win against the holders

A touch of magic from Merlim secured Sporting CP's place in the UEFA Futsal Cup final this Friday, on a magical afternoon that saw Alvalade's heroes beat Ugra 2-1.

Although packed with many of the world's best futsal superstars, both sides made nervous starts to the encounter. Chishkala and Leo tangled early on, after the Brazilian-born Kazakh received a warm ovation from the home crowd. Leo himself was hurry for goals, trying his luck on several occasions (2', 3' and 13'), including with one shot that hammered off the woodwork.

With no goals before the break, their was little more to comment on first-half, other than the fact that both sides reached the limit of four fouls with three minutes to play.

It was in the second-half that the afternoon sparked to life, with goals and some cool heads seeing Nuno Dias' side edge ahead. Cavinato was unable to capitalise on an opportunity in the 23rd minute, but the warning shot had been fired and some brilliant skill from Merlim saw the Sporting CP star breeze past Chishkala and fire in the game's first.

Holding a slender lead, Sporting CP began to push forward, dominating the reigning UEFA Futsal Cup holders with unbreakable concentration. Diogo, introduced in the second-half, was the main instigator of the Alvalade attacking efforts and with 11 minutes left on the clock he skillfully moved past three players and took the paint off the post with a stinging shot, before actually hitting the woodwork full-on two minutes later.

Dieguinho finally made it 2-0 a few minutes later, after a confusing spell of play that saw him poke the ball in while already down on the floor under a tackle. The Ugra coach Kaká responded as expected, bringing on a forward goalkeeper with 6'34'' left. Nuno Dias had warned his side would have to suffer to come out on top and that is exactly what happened for the rest of the encounter.

Ugra's goal with 1'49'' left to play cranked up the nerves again, but some heroic defending kept the Russians at bay and with each save by Marcão the Sporting CP bench celebrated as if they had themselves just found the back of the net.

As the final whistle sounded, dreams of lifting the UEFA Futsal Cup in the Almaty Arena are now one step closer, with Inter Movistar awaiting in the final.

Alvalade stars put the final touches to Friday's encounter

Sporting CP completed one last final training session in the Almaty Arena this Thursday afternoon, ahead of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four semi-final against Gazprom-Ugra. The session was open to the press for 15 minutes, while the players warmed up. Deo and Dieguinho are Sporting CP's two injury doubts for tomorrow, but both took part in the session.

Sporting CP and Ugra crossed paths out on the court and Deo and the Russian captain Aleksandr Kopeikin captured the moment perfectly.

João Matos looks ahead to the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four semi-finals

Captain João Matos sat down with the press ahead of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four semi-final encounter with Gazprom-Ugra on Friday.

"I think it will be a well-balanced game between two really strong teams, but of course Ugra are the favourites and want to defend their title. We have our strengths and we will make is hard for them, but I think it will be decided in the detail", opened the Alvalade skipper, continuing: "We want to win this for our fans, but we have to take one step at a time. We are forty minutes away from the final and we will fight as hard as we can to make our fans and Portuguese football proud."

Nuno Dias and Kaká face off in the press room ahead of Friday's encounter out on the court

The Sporting CP and Ugra coaches and skippers were in the Almaty Arena press room this Thursday to fire the starting gun for the UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finals. Nuno Dias and João Matos for Sporting CP and Kaká and Aleksandr Kopeikin for Ugra, ahead of what promises to be a memorable encounter. Dias and Kaká both opened with a reflection on how they have been preparing for Friday's showdown.

Nuno Dias: "Preparing for this competition isn't that different to how we prepare for any match. Ugra play in a country with a lot of different time zones and are used to traveling a lot. It makes it a bit harder for us, while they (Ugra) are used to it. There is one other thing which I think is really important and that is the ability to use your whole squad for the whole season. Sporting CP can't do that because of regulations, so obviously we can't build up as many routines. That goes against us a bit, but thankfully in this competition we can put it right."

Kaká: "Unfortunately and like Sporting CP we had a league game at the weekend. There is a three-hour difference for us here as well, but it is nothing to worry about. We deal with the time difference a lot when traveling around Russia, so that is why we only came 24 hours before the game. The lads are used to it."

The pair were also asked what it is that will likely make a difference come the opening whistle on Friday.

Nuno Dias: "Some thing we can't control. Things like players one on one, set pieces or four against five, which I think will happen. Anything like that makes a difference. The team that surprises the other will win."

Kaká: "Three fouls by Dynamo resulted in three goals. In one of them a player turned his back and the ball went through his legs. That is the kind of thing we have to watch out for."