The FA UMBRO Futsal Cup
The English Institute Of Sport, Sheffield
4- 6 July 2008
Helvecia Futsal Club and Doncaster Belles were both crowned as champions of The FA Futsal Cup in 2008, following a dramatic few days of Finals in the summer.
Helvecia, a team made up of London-based Brazilians, beat off competition from the previous year's champions Ipswich Wolves courtesy of a stunning last second goal whilst the Belles overcame Watford in the Women's Final to pick up their first ever Futsal honour.
It was the sixth annual Finals to be held at the prestigious English Institute Of Sport in Sheffield and proved to be another memorable occasion with 32 teams taking part over the three days.
Initially separated into four groups of four in both the Men's and Women's competition, the teams played each other over the first two days, with the top two from each group sealing a Quarter Final place.
The competition was fierce by this stage and there were many memorable games, such as the meeting of two of the Men's favourites in Ipswich Wolves and FC White Bear which was so close it had to be decided by penalties before being eventually won by Wolves.
Helvecia saw off competition from Corinthians in their Semi-Final to seal a 3-1 win and place in the Final, whilst the Wolves had too much for Tranmere Victoria in their Semi and progressed with a 3-2 result.
In the Women's competition, the Final saw 2007 winners Watford taking on the Belles, who had only been called into the competition as a last minute replacement for the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA.
They upset all of the odds though, with a goal from former England international Vicky Exley (left) proving enough to secure a narrow 1-0 win and the title for the Belles.
The Men's Final proved finely matched over the 30 minutes and with the final buzzer approximately 0.1 seconds away, Helvecia won it to cruelly deny Wolves a chance to retain their title.
The winning goal came when Thiago Diorio made a dash into the box to turn home a quickly played pass from goalkeepers Elizandro Boria Lima from close range and send their noisy supporters wild with joy.