Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

UEFA Intertoto: Big week for the flying Mpenzas

/noticias.info/ When Belgium won 2-0 against European champions Greece in Brussels last week, all the goals were scored by the 24th minute, giving cause for celebration in the Mpenza household.

Goal apiece
In the 19th minute, 27-year-old Emile Mpenza profited from a misplaced back-header to open the scoring while five minutes later his 28-year-old elder brother Mbo Mpenza received a chested-down ball from Jelle Van Damme and volleyed it superbly for his first goal in 46 internationals.

"We can find each other in the dark"Emile Mpenza

Magic persists
"Today showed that the magic between us is still there," said Emile Mpenza. "The dynamic is not something you forget. We can find each other in the dark. Let's hope it is a sign that we will have good luck in the future, because together we can do a lot of damage."

Controversial move
Emile and Mbo first made their name as they scored 12 goals apiece for R. Excelsior Mouscron in the 1996/97 season to lift the newly-promoted side to third place in the Belgian First Division. The two then made a controversial move to R. Standard de Liège.

Brothers divided
The Mpenzas - then aged 18 and 20 - managed to weather the storm at Standard despite a court action by Mouscron accusing them of breach of contract, but they split up two and a half years later, Emile joining FC Schalke 04 and Mbo going to Sporting Clube de Portugal and then Galatasaray SK.

Injury concerns
However, once they separated, injuries blighted their careers. In the end, it took transfers back to Belgium to get them back on their feet. Mbo returned to Mouscron in 2001, while Emile rejoined Standard in 2003, scoring 21 goals in 26 games in the 2003/04 campaign to earn a switch back to Germany with Hamburger SV.

Stuttering career
The turmoil in the brothers' careers was reflected in their international standing with Belgium. Tellingly Emile, who had won 27 caps by his 21st birthday, has added only 20 to that tally in the four and a half years following his appearance at UEFA EURO 2000™.

Hamburg concern
It is only since February that he has returned to the Red Devils' fold. It is a rare injury-free spell that has brought him back into focus, and Hamburg showed how much they value his fitness by resting him this weekend with Tuesday's UEFA Intertoto Cup final second leg against Valencia CF looming.

Mbo on fire
Mbo, now at RSC Anderlecht, scored his third goal in as many league games against KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen on Saturday after an unsuccessful stint in midfield last term. "Last season I was stupid enough to agree to play in midfield but now I am back in my favourite position, in attack, and physically and mentally I feel excellent," he said.

Big tie
He also has a major European tie this week as Anderlecht look to defend the 2-1 advantage they earned in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie against SK Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic on Wednesday. Mbo scored the winner.

Busy spell
"It is an incredible period," said Mbo. "I scored my first goal in 46 matches for the Red Devils, and it will be a busy period now. After the match in Prague we have to play with Belgium away against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and after that I hope to play with Anderlecht in the Champions League."

Positive signs
With the Mpenzas on fire again, Anderlecht, Hamburg and Belgium all have much to look forward to. notas_de_prensa_archivo