Barça defeated Portuguese Sporting this Friday in the Champions League semi-final (5-4) with own goals from Rafa Félix, Adolfo, Antonio Pérez, Catela and Matheus Rodrigues, and will face Mallorca Palma Futsal on Sunday in the title match in Yerevan (Armenia).
The duel started in the worst possible way for Barça, who took 54 seconds to concede the first goal on a throw-in that Tomás Paçó finished off with a volley and without opposition (0-1, min.1). Dídac’s saves prevented greater evils for the Blaugranas, who tested Henrique Rafagnin’s reflexes in shots by Antonio Pérez and Catela.
The Catalan team turned the score around in two set-piece actions in less than a minute: Rafa Félix deflected a Touré throw-in just enough to mislead his goalkeeper (1-1, min.9) and, immediately afterwards, Adolfo He pushed a corner served by Catela into the far post (2-1, min.9).
The duel was still open and both teams generated danger. The crossbar saved Barça from a tie in a shot by Pauleta, but also deprived them of the goal in a double penalty action taken by Catela after Sporting’s sixth foul.
Immediately afterwards, Zicky Té entered the scene and promoted Lisbon’s comeback. The center completed a counterattack to tie the duel (2-2, min.17) and caused a penalty when he was knocked down by Dídac, who stopped Hugo Neves’ maximum penalty but could not prevent the goal after the subsequent rebound (2-3 , min.18).
Far from giving up, Barça tied before the break in an action in which Catela attracted the attention of the defense and gave way behind for Antonio Pérez’s shot (3-3, min.19). And after the restart, Catela scored a goal of pure talent: he cut inside and sent a left-footed shot into the top corner (4-3, min.22).
A defensive imbalance allowed Tatinho to score at will after a throw-in (4-4, min.24) and the duel entered a phase of uncertainty that was decided by Matheus. After a first shot against the post, the Brazilian made it 5-4 (min.32) with a half-turn shot. From then on, Barça made an exercise in defensive effort to protect their place in the final.
