There was no way back for Murata against Drenica in the preliminary round of the UEFA Futsal Champions League. The Kosovan side ran out 11-1 winners over the Sammarinese club, staying level with Ujpest at the top of the group, with the same number of points and goals scored. Murata now have one final match left, scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm against Sakarya Karasu, with third place on the line.
Murata’s resistance lasted almost seven minutes. Drenica broke the deadlock through Dervishaj, set up by Xhinovci, before Delvecchio pulled off a save to deny Sanchez. Shortly after, however, Haxhijai doubled the lead, while an own goal from Cesarini made it 0-3.
Murata tried to respond and created a few chances. “Molinas forces a save from Selmanaj on the ground, then Belloni steals the ball and finds himself one-on-one with the Kosovan goalkeeper, who again proves outstanding” – reads the FSGC match report. Shortly after, Recober also had a go, but was once again denied by the opposing keeper. Before the break, Haxhijai found the net again to make it 0-4.
In the second half, Drenica upped the tempo. After a goal by Ramadani was disallowed, the Kosovan side found their fifth. Murata then managed to pull one back to make it 1-5, when “Mattioli skips past Xhinovci and puts in a cross that Haxhijai turns into his own net.”
The goal did nothing to change the course of the match, however. Drenica extended their lead through Xhinovci, Diar and Aliu, while Murata tried to threaten with a combination between Molinas and Recober and a central effort from Belloni.
In the closing stages, the gap widened even further. “Sanchez from outside the box, Deliu with a deflection close to goal, and Dervishaj with a sharp left-footed strike set the final score at 11-1,” the federation’s report states.
In the group’s other match, Ujpest beat Sakarya Karasu 13-1. The Turkish side remain behind Murata on goal difference. Following a rest day, tomorrow will bring the two decisive head-to-head clashes: Sakarya Karasu vs Murata at 3pm for third place, while Ujpest vs Drenica will decide the top of the group and progression to the next round.
