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."

Sporting CP train on the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four court for the first time

Sporting CP's futsal squad trained for the first time in the Almaty Arena today, ahead of of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four.

The session lasted a little over an hour. For the opening exercises the squad split into groups, with the goalkeepers working with Raul Oliveira. Half an hour later, Nuno Dias took charge for some attacking and defending drills.

Sporting CP's return to the hotel coincided with the arrival of the Spanish side Inter Movistar for their training session, with the Russian side Urga the only group yet to arrive.

Nuno Dias announces squad for Almaty showdown

Nuno Dias has named his final squad of 14 for the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four:

Goalkeepers
Marcão
André Sousa

Defender
Leo

Universal
Caio Japa

Winger
João Matos
Deo
Paulinho
Varela
Diogo
Merlim
Cavinato
Pany

Pivot
Dieguinho
Fortino

Futsal squad made to feel at home in the Almaty Arena

Sporting CP's technical staff made an early morning visit to the Almaty Arena this Wednesday, to prepare the squad's dressing room.

It was a little reminder of home for the Alvalade charges, with photographs and flags decorating the dressing rooms green and white. The gesture wasn't wasted on captain João Matos. "Don't think it was UEFA who did this", said the Alvalade skipper.

Divanei makes the most of the opportunity to catch up with his former teammates

Divanei, 32, has been with Kairat for three seasons now, after spending two separate spells with Sporting CP totaling five seasons in Alvalade. Although Kairat side have the home advantage, the veteran winger isn't dismissing Sporting CP's chances of silverware: "I have watched the games and the club is at a really top level right now. This is the UEFA Futsal Cup and we all remember 2011, when we were favourites against Montesilvano and ended up losing. Sporting CP will face Ugra and the players will have to concentrate from start to finish. The little details make the difference."

Divanei looked overjoyed with the chance to mix with his former teammates and he didn't hide that in his comments to the press: "I really miss going out to play and hearing people chanting for me. Not even the top Brazilian players had the support I did, which is recognition of what I did with Sporting CP."

Medical information ahead of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four

Nuno Dias ups the tempo on second day

The second day of training in Almaty and Nuno Dias is turning the screw, after giving his players the opportunity to recover from the long trip from Lisbon.

In general the session focused on technique, while the goalkeepers were also put through their faces in front of some stinging shots.

Tomorrow will be Sporting CP's first run out onto the court at the Almaty Arena.