by Stephen Azzopardi and Kevin Azzopardi (MFA Head of Communications Office)

Luxol St Andrews made history becoming the first Maltese futsal team to reach the main round of the UEFA Futsal Cup.
Luxol broke every record in having three wins out of three games, after beating hosts FC Diamant Linz (7-1), Macedonian champions KMF Shkupi (9-2) Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv (4-3).
Like they did in the preceeding games, Luxol had a comfortable advantage before the end of the first half. They opened 3-0 in the first nine minutes of play with goals from Croatian defender Kristijan Grbesa, Serbian Zvezdan Vukovic and Mark Zammit. Adam Cohen pulled one for Maccabi to make the half time score 3-1.
Maccabi scored again through Ivan Diedunov but Croatian forward Nikola Perkovic put Luxol 4-2 ahead on 28 minutes.
Barely a minute later, Cohen reopened the issue for Maccabi Tel Aviv but Luxol held on to secure their victory and the qualification to the main round of the UEFA Futsal Cup.
Luxol will be in Group 8 against Araz Naxçivan from Azerbaijan, Romanians and hosts FC Deva and Mostar from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Maltese champions were meant to be in Group 5 but swapped with Group F winners Leo of Armenia following a decision of the UEFA Emergency Committee as clubs from Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot meet.
Futsal Minerva, Liburn, Regensburg, Mostar, Leo, Bielsko-Biała and ‘t Knooppunt also won their UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary round groups to complete the main round line-up.
The main round tournaments will take place between October 10 and 15.

Photo taken by Joe Borg and is found on uefa.com

STEPHEN AZZOPARDI

Luxol succeeded to win a very delicate match against Macedonian Champions KMF Shkupi, with another convincing result of 9-2. This was the best score for a Maltese club and being the second win in the Uefa Futsal Cup Preliminary Round.
Luxol led after 51 seconds as Brazilian Celino Alves opened the score, followed immediately by Kristjan Grbesa’s goal. Shkupi reduced the score through Erkan Seferi but Luxol replied with three more goals. Alves made his second personal goal, together with two more goals scored by Emil Raducu and Hrvoje Penava.
During the second half Luxol continued to increase the score through Nikola Perkovic, another one by Grbesa from the penalty spot and a brace from Zvezdan Vukovic. The Macedonians scored their second goal through Dragan Peteovic.
Tomorrow at 6pm, Luxol will be facing Maccabi Tel Aviv from Israel, where a draw is enough for a historical qualification to the Uefa Futsal Cup’s Main Round.

STEPHEN AZZOPARDI

A convincing win for Luxol Futsal in their opening match in the Preliminary Round of the Uefa Futsal Cup, held in Linz, Austria. The Maltese champions smashed the hosting Austrian champions with the final score of 7-1. This is not the highest score by a Maltese club playing abroad, as last year Valletta beat Scottish team Wattcell with the score of 9-3.
Luxol were in their best condition and opened the score in the opening seconds through Rogerio dos Santos.
Captain Mark Zammit doubled the score and increased the team’s confidence throughout the match. Emil Raducu and Nikola Perkovic made the half time score 4-0 for Luxol.
In the second half Luxol kept their superiority and added more goals through Celino Alves, GianCarlo Sammut and Perkovic’s brace. A few seconds before the final whistle came the Austrian consolation goal done by Nenad Stankovic.
Later today at 6pm, Luxol Futsal will play against KMF Shkupi from Macedonia.