The seventh day of the European Universities Futsal Championship (EUC) 2019 was marked by the decision of the two teams that were going to compete on the final. The University of Minho Sports Complex will be the stage for the final, which will be next Tuesday between the University of Malaga and the Karazin Kharkiv National University. The current European university champions defeated the University of Jaén and earned their place at the finals. Karazin Kharkiv National University team has beaten the hosts and will try to reach the gold medal in Braga.

The fight for the ninth place on the championship started early with the match of the University of Camerino against the Lviv Polytechnic National University. The match started and the Ukrainians didn’t waste any time, scoring on the first minute. The Italians quickly turned the game around and tied the game but the Ukrainian team didn’t give up and went to break wining 3-2. On the second half of the game the Lviv Polytechnic National University took advantage of the fifth foul of the Italian team and through a free kick of 10 meters, put the ball inside the goal. The match showed the will both teams had to win and that was reflected on the results. The game ended on a tie (4-4) but on penalties the Ukrainians ended up winning.

The dispute for the twelfth place was equally interesting to watch because the University of Reims Champagne Ardenne had their first win on the competition, against the University of Munster, also on penalties. In a well-balanced game, the French were on a full gas mode and started winning but the Germans caught up with them and went to half-time with a tie (1-1). On the second half of the game, both teams scored 2 goals and the game ended, again, on a tie (3-3). During penalties, the French goalkeeper proved his value, guaranteeing his team´s victory.

In the dispute for the 15th and 17th place, the University of Coimbra played against the College of Management Academic Studies, losing in the great penalties. Although the Portuguese team was winning by 2-0, the Israelite goalkeeper stopped his opponents from scoring, and by that they tied the match. At half-time both teams were tied by 2-2 but on the 23rd minute the Israelites had already taken control of the game. Once the University of Coimbra got the ball, they didn’t stop until they scored, leaving the game results to be decided on penalties. Being the most effective team on the 6 meters’ mark, the College of Management Academic Studies was able to ensured their victory. 

After failing to qualify for the semi-finals, the Polythecninc Institute of Leiria faced the Saint Petersburg ITMO University for the 5th place. The Portuguese team came in the field, trying to score in the first minutes, but the Russians proved to be defensive and didn´t let the University of Minho take control of the game. The half-time score was 0-0 but in the second half there were finally some goals. The Russian team didn’t waste any time and scored 3 times without giving the Portuguese the chance to reply. In the last minute, the Polythecninc Institute of Leiria scored but it wasn’t enough to overtake the Saint Petersburg ITMO University, which won by 3-1 and achieved the 5th place in the championship.

The Tbilisi State University faced the University of Warsaw after they have lost yesterday on penalties. Leading the match from the beginning to the end, the Georgians won 3-1. At 10 minutes, the team from Georgia was already winning by 2 goals. The Polish team replied and scored. The Tbilisi State University kept the intensity and went to the half time winning by 3-1. In the second half time of the game, both teams gave their best and the history didn’t change. The Georgian team kept the rhythm and confirmed their victory by 6-3 and will compete for the 5th place on the EUC Futsal 2019.

The University of Minho Sports Complex received the two male semi-finals, the first one was the University of Malaga vs the University of Jaén, two Spanish universities, and the second one was the University of Minho vs the Karazin Kharkiv National University. The current European university champions confirmed their “favorite team” title when they entered the field and scored 5 times, 4 goals in the first half of the game and another one in the second half. The game ended by 5-0 and the University of Malaga ensured, once again, their place at the finals.  

In the second semi-final of the day, the Sports Complex was full to watch the University of Minho against the Karazin Kharkiv National University. The house team was distracted in the beginning of the game but quickly got the upper hand. The Portuguese were the first ones scoring making the opponents asking for a time out. Both teams scored two goals before the half-time but in the second half everything changed, and the Ukrainians took control of the game. The University of Minho tried to tie the game, so that they could go to the penalties, but the Ukrainian goalkeeper didn’t allow them. The game ended with the result of 3-2, with one more victory for the Karazin Khakiv National University. This result ensured that the Ukrainian team passed to the next phase: the final against the University of Malaga.