Euro Winners Cup 2014 will learn finalists this afternoon, with Kristall, Sable Dancers, SC Braga and Milano targeting the decider
Russian clubs battle for semis, Kristall prevails in penalties
The 6(1)-6(0) penalties win for BSC Kristall over BSC Lokomotiv was as exhilarating as it sounds; the past two Russian national league champions, last year’s winner of the Euro Winners Cup, and a derby match to boot. Kristall used pinpoint offensive strikes and a thrilling comeback to tie the match in the last seconds. Overtime was just as evenly matched, and neither team wanted to be the ones looking on for the championship, but one of them has to. Kristall has qualified for the semi-finals and will face Sable Dancers later in the afternoon in the first match of the final four. Lokomotiv still has a chance to play for 5th, 6th, or 7th place, and their next match will also be in the afternoon against Artur Music.
These two long time rivals know each other well and the beginning of the match showed that with both clubs predicting the others moves until late in the period when three goals were scored, two by Kristall, to take a 2-1 lead into the break. In the middle frame Kristall stayed on the attack but Lokomotiv was able to defend their goal early but Kristall struck again to take a two goal lead into the last period. Lokomotiv threw everything but the kitchen sink at their cross-town Moscow rivals but still remained trailing going into the final minutes when they shredded through the Kristall defense and took their first lead before allowing Kristall to tie the match again in the final seconds. A last second penalty kick was awarded to Kristall and with ice in their veins, they converted. Not to be outdone, Lokomotiv came right back and as if they had a clutch gene, scored again to send the game to penalties.
Much credit to be given to goalkeepers in the penalty kick shootout, denying the attempts for both two experienced specialists such as Belchior and Bruno Xavier. Madjer saw his effort go wide, too, and Aksenov sealed the ticket to semifinals in the last shot.
Goals: 1-0: Datinha, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Fernando, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Askenov, min. 4 (1); 3-1: Paporotny, min. 0 (2); 3-2: Rafinha, min. 6 (3); 4-2: Askenov, min. 2 (3); 4-3: Belchior, min. 1 (3); 4-4: Madjer, min. 0 (3); 4-5: Fernando, min. 2 (et); 5-5: Bruno Xavier, min. 1 (et); 6-5: Askenov, min. 0 (et); 6-6: Shkarin, min. 0 (et).
Penalties: Belchior, Block; Bruno Xavier, Block; Madjer, out; Aksenov, goal.
Sable Dancers tune out Artur Music on way to semis
The 4-3 win for the club from Switzerland, Sable Dancers, over Artur Music of Ukraine was splendid with offensive attacks and defensive stands that the ancient Greeks and Romans would be proud of. The Sable Dancers siege was too much for Artur Music. Sable Dancers started strong, Artur Music responded to tie the game late, but then the Swiss club took over again, and now the Swiss well go into the semi-finals to face an earlier quarter-finals winner, BSC Kristall. Artur Music will face the loser of said earlier quarter-finals match, BSC Lokomotiv, later in the day.
The first period was exciting and with the Sable Dancers looking nearly unstoppable it could be expected that they would score first, and sure enough they did but Artur Music did a splendid job of stopping it at that. Early in the second Artur Music struggled to find the equalizer but Sable Dancers could not get to a safe distance, though Artur Music leveled the score for a short time before the Swiss club scored two times to close out the period leading 3-1.The Swiss club knew how quickly the dynamics of a beach soccer game can change so the final frame they continued their game plan, maintain possession and play aggressive but Artur Music was able to string together 2 goals to tie the score at 3. Sable Dancers used their experience to keep their cool and struck a rocket of a direct kick from their own side of the pitch to go up by one, and then managed to shutout their goal to access the best-4 group.
Goals: 0-1: Labaste, min. 7 (1); 1-1: Budzko, min.7 (2); 1-2: Taiarui, min. 7 (2); 1-3: Schirinzi, min. 5 (2); 2-3: Mozgovyy, min. 6 (3); 3-3: A. Borsuk, min. 5 (3); 3-4: Taiarui, min. 4 (3).
Milano edges Goldwin for semi-finals birth
The 5-4 win for the Italian side, Milano BS, over Hungary´s Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC was just as tight throughout as the final score indicated with both sides jostling for goals and the lead. Milano eventually pulled out the win with their stellar defensive performance in the final period. The Italian club will face SC Braga in the final semi-final match of the day. Goldwin Pluss played extremely well the entire match but they still have the opportunity to play for as high as 5th place, with their next match being against Catania BS later in the afternoon.
Milano came out swinging and scored the games’ first two goals as looked to establish themselves as the domineering force in the match. The Hungarian wanted none of that and scored late in the period to cut the lead in half. The middle frame began with another Goldwin goal, tying the match at 2. Neither side was finished scoring at that point and the period ended with a score of 4-4. The eight goals through the first two periods indicated how exciting and tightly matched the game was and the third period was another example of that, though Milano responded with the first goal of the period, after Amarelle’s personal move, which, at the same time, proved to be the last and decider.
Goals: 0-1: Grassi, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Eudin, min. 7 (1); 1-2: Coimbra, min. 3 (1); 2-2: Spaca, min. 11 (2); 2-3: Leo, min. 6 (2); 3-3: Scazsko, min. 4 (2); 3-4: Amarelle, min. 3 (2); 4-4: Fekete, min. 1 (2); 4-5: Maiorano, min. 7 (3).
Braga opens offense to surge into semis
The 10-7 victory for Portugal´s best club, SC braga, over Italian host club, Catania BS, was emotionally charged with both teams leaving everything they had on the field. Catania took a big lead then surrendered it only to see Braga take control of the match late in the last period. The win puts the Portuguese team into the semi-finals against the last remaining Italian team, Milano BS. The loss leaves Catania out of the running for the finals but they will play later in the afternoon against Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC who lost earlier to Milano.
The first period saw six goals scored by all manners possible, direct kick, penalty kick, set piece, long distance, short range, and everywhere in between, the host team, Catania earned themselves a two-goal lead at 4-2 when they had reached the first break. The middle frame was another score fest as both teams found the back of the net but Catania made more of a mark, which included a top-10 highlight reel worthy goal, a looping bicycle that spanned the entire field, surprising the Braga keeper, Spaniard Dona. The final period began with the Italian club up by three goals but Braga quickly scored three times to erase the deficit and show the Italian club that they were not giving in that easy. In the last minutes of the match, the Portuguese side scored again to take their first lead of the match. They did not ease up and throttled the Catania defense for three more goals.
Goals: 0-1: Zurlo, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Zé Maria, min. 9 (1); 1-2: Rodrigo, min. 9 (1); 1-3: Rodrigo, min. 4 (1); 1-4: Bosco, min. 1 (1); 2-4: Zé Maria, min. 1 (1); 2-5: Rodrigo, min. 3 (2); 3-5: Jordan, min. 2 (2); 3-6: Rodrigo, min. 1 (2); 4-6: Rudy, min. 11 (3); 5-6: Batista, min. 7 (3); 6-6: Zé, min. 6 (3); 7-6: Zé Maria, min. 5 (3); 8-6: Jordan, min. 3 (3); 9-6: Miguel, min. 2 (3); 10-6: Tiago, min. 1 (3); 10-7: Fraceschini, min. 1 (3).
EURO WINNERS CUP 2014
Match Results:
Saturday, 7th of June, 2014
QUARTERFINALS
BSC Kristall 6(1)-6(0) BSC Lokomotiv (M 45)
Artur Music 3-4 Sable Dancers (M 46)
Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC 4-5 Milano BS (M 47)
SC Braga 10-7 Catania BS (M 48)
Upcoming Matches:
Saturday, 7th of June, 2014
SEMIFINALS
17:30 – BSC Kristall vs. Sable Dancers – SF1
17:30 – BSC Lokomotiv vs. Artur Music (pitch 2)
18:45 – Milano BS vs. SC Braga – SF2
18:45 – Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC vs. Catania BS (pitch 2)
