Mega facility set to host UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four

Imposing is the best way to describe the Almaty Arena: the stage for the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four which will see Sporting CP face Gazprom-Ugra Yugorsk on Friday.

The mega structure cost approximately 238 million euro to build and houses a 12,000 seater arena, in addition to a smaller facility with 3,000 seats and an Olympic swimming pool.

Sporting CP vice-president Vicente Moura is traveling with the squad for the event and was equally impressed with the facility: "Overall it is the best I have seen in my life. It is modern and has technology I have never seen before. t looks really nice from the outside too."

Sporting CP futsal work off the long flight from the Portuguese capital

After breakfast and a short walk, Sporting CP held their first training session in Almaty this week, at the AFC Kairat Academy.

Nuno Dias used the session to give his players the chance to stetch off after the seven thousand kilometer trip from Lisbon.

Alvalade squad arrives ahead of the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four

Seven thousand kilometers from from Lisbon and 13 hours after leaving the Portuguese capital, Sporting CP's futsal team have landed in Almaty for this week's UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four.

After a transfer in Istanbul, Nuno Dias' side arrived at 05h30 local time and the players were all in high spirits, despite the draining trip.

After breakfast the squad rested up, before their first training session at 18h00 at the AFC Kairat Academy.

João Matos speaks with the press before taking off for Kazakhstan

João Matos was the player spoken to speak with journalists who had gathered ahead of Sporting CP's trip to Kazakhstan for the UEFA Cup Final Four.

As usual, the Alvalade veteran's expectations are high: "It is a privilege to take part in a competition at this level. It is an hour for Sporting CP and for Portuguese futsal to be in the Final Four again. Nerves will kick in a bit later of course, but that is normal. We have a week to work on the detail now and we are all looking forward to it."

Sporting CP will face Gazprom-Ugra Yugorsk in the semi-finals on Friday and although the Russians are the current UEFA Futsal Cup holders, Matos still sees his side as in with a chance: "This is Sporting CP's best team and we have a lot of quality in every position. We have our strengths, but we can't let emotion get the better of us. We have to keep our cool and that is what we are working on. I think we can get a good result against Ugra."

Nuno Dias left almost speechless by Sunday's UEFA Futsal Cup emotion

"An amazing match, in every way." Those were the words of an ecstatic Nuno Dias on Sunday, after watching his side overcome the powerful FC Dynamo in the UEFA Futsal Cup and secure a place in the competition's Final Four.

Resisting efforts to pull him away to party with his players, the Alvalade futsal coach took moment to reflect: "This match took a lot out of us physically and emotionally. The key was the character of my players, the way they were able to adapt at half-time to do better. Today I want to celebrate, this is an amazing achievement. We are the only non-seeded team to get into the Final Four and we even came out on top against the Russian champions. I honestly cannot find the words to explain how I feel about our fans and the way they supported us when everything felt lost."

Diogo thanks the fans for their support in Sporting CP's Final Four passage

The support of the fans. For Diogo, that is what made the difference in Sporting CP's passage into the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four

"The fans getting behind us was fundamental. There was a period there in the first-half where we were a bit nervous, but we controlled ourselves in the second-half", said Diogo at the final whistle, adding a word on the Final Four: "We have big objectives and we are will work hard to achieve them."

Battling 3-3 draw against FC Dynamo qualifies Nuno Dias's side for UEFA Futsal Cup showdown

Sporting CP are once again in the UEFA Futsal Cup Final Four and it is thoroughly deserved. Nuno Dias and Co. are the only side to have come out on top against a seeded team, with Kairat Almart (Group A), Ugra Yugorsk (Group B) and Inter FS (Group C) all topping their respective groups.

Skipper João Matos opened the afternoon's scoring with a brilliant volley that almost blew the roof of the Odivelas Multiuse Arena with an absolute eruption from the capacity crowd. It was just the first of three Sporting CP goals brought about from set pieces. The notched up the pressure in response, while Merlin came close to extending the lead on two occasions.

Nuno Dias on Sporting CP's 16-1 win against Târgu Mures

Nuno Dias was understandably happy with his side's dismantling of Târgu Mures this Friday night, tallying an amazing sixteen goals.

"All we were focusing on was winning. We had the benefit of knowing that we needed 12 goals and the lads were motivated to go out there and do it. I just tried to keep everyone relaxed and to keep the pace up. I knew if we did that then the result would follow", opened the Alvalade futsal coach, adding: "We focused more on how we were playing than the result. The way we were pressing and moving the ball around was always going to bring results in the second-half. There is no way our opponent could have kept up with us."

Nuno Dias's side tally amazing total to take control of Group D

Building on last night's 4-1 win against ETO Gyor, Sporting CP demolished a spirited Târgu Mures side on Friday night. The final result of 16-1 was also enough to better FC Dynamo's totals so far, moving Sporting CP into first in the group and meaning that a draw is enough for the team from Alvalade to claim a place in the Final Four.

Despite the expressive final result, it was actually a game of two very distinct parts. Sporting CP were determined to score, but a bitter of overenthusiasm going forward saw too many shots attempted from range. The result read 3-0 at half-time, with two of the goals coming as a result of Marcão moving up the pitch. In fact, it was the Alvalade custodian who opened the evening's scoring, blasting into the top corner from range.

A reaction was expected from Nuno Dias's side after the break and it certainly came. Pace and class in possession put the Romanians under unbearable pressure and the goal tally quickly ran out of control. Varela was first to strike, pretty much with the blow of the opening whistle, and in 10 minutes Sporting CP fired in a total of eight goals to take an 11-0 lead. With 12 the target, Sporting CP continued to push and more goals naturally came. There was also time for Târgu Mures to get a consolation goal of their own, with a cheeky effort from range lopping over Gonçalo Portugal. 

Nuno Dias happy with his side's Elite Round showing

"Of course I am happy. Our objective was to open with a win", said Nuno Dias after watching his side beat Eto Gyor on UEFA Futsal Cup Elite Round group D matchday 1.

The Alvalade futsal coach went on to reflect further on the match and what the rest of the tournament is likely to hold: "I said we would be playing against a really strong team who would give us a hard time. It was a good match for both teams and the win was down to us sticking together during the harder moments. Congratulations to Gyor, they are a quality side. Tomorrow Targus might be a big dismissive in relation to the final result, which will open the game up and give us more opportunities. Let's wait and see."