Valletta FC qualify for UEFA Champions League Main Round

For the second consecutive year, a Maltese futsal team managed to qualify for the UEFA Futsal Champions League Main Round.

After last year’s qualification by Luxol, it is now Valletta FC Futsal who have qualified.

After winning their first two matches against Cosmos (Estonia) and Futsamba Naas (Ireland), Valletta won the group by winning 8-5 against hosts Veles (Macedonia).

Veles broke the deadlock after eight minutes and a half through Igor Stojkovski. Valletta went for half time leading 2-1, after a quick brace by Camilo Gomez.

Valletta started the second half with two more goals in the first two minutes, through Yerai Hernandez Gutierrez and Murtaz Kakabadze. On the 25th minute Zoran Leveski reduced the arrears for Veles but soon after Denis Di Maio made it 5-2 for Valletta. A few seconds later Darko Rangotov scored the third goal for the Macedonians.

With only five minutes left of play, Zoran Leveski scored again for Veles and narrowed the gap to 5-4. With nothing to lose, Veles took the risk by playing with the flying keeper. Seeing this risky move, Valletta grasped the opportunity and scored another goal, a third one for Camilo Gomez, who made it 6-4.

The last period of the game was still undecided as Aleksander Gligorov scored from a first timer shot from half court. Valletta’s goalkeeper Tornike Bukja made it 7-5 by scoring from side to side of the court. With only ten seconds left, Yerai Hernandez Gutierrez sealed Valletta’s win and qualification with the end result of 8-5.