The sides will compete for the Euro Beach Soccer Cup in Belgrade tomorrow.
Italy and Portugal will contest the final of the Euro Beach Soccer Cup 2016 in Belgrade on Sunday after negotiating their respective semi-finals while there were also wins for Switzerland and Ukraine on the competition’s second day.
Hero Andrade sends Portugal into final
Goalkeeper Andrade was the hero for Portugal as he saved two penalties in a shoot-out to help the world champions into the final of the Euro Beach Soccer Cup after victory over Russia.
The sides – ranked second and first in the world respectively – played out an eight-goal thriller as Russia showed their spirit to continually restore parity against their long-standing rivals.
After Makarov’s opener was cancelled out by Belchior, B. Novo was twice on target only for Shkarin and Kryshanov to provide stubborn resistance.
Paporotnyi levelled for a fourth time after Madjer’s low drive found the far corner but the Russian forward’s luck soon ran out.
While Madjer and Coimbra found the target in the shoot-out, Andrade first denied Paporotnyi and then captain Leonov to send the six-time champions into the final against the Italians.
Italy show their class to reach maiden final
Italy made it to the final of the Euro Beach Soccer Cup for the first time on Saturday as braces from Savarese, Corosiniti and Gori helped them to a 7-2 win against Hungary.
Perennial semi-finalists at the tournament, the Italians proved a cut above and, having been pegged back by a delightful Simonyi effort, they amassed a 6-1 lead through the aforementioned trio.
Savarese scored twice in the first period, while Corosiniti and Palmacci also found the target, before Gori registered a quick fire brace in the second.
Bensenyei reduced the arrears prior to the third period but Italy were home and hosed by the time Corosiniti completed the scoring late on, leaving Hungary to fight for third against Russia while Massimo Agostini and co await Portugal.
Serbia hit for six by slick Swiss
A historic first goal in Serbian beach soccer was the highlight of the evening for the hosts in Belgrade as they fell to a 6-1 loss against Switzerland.
In the second of the fifth-place play-offs, Dejan Knevevic’s men took the lead in front of a healthy home crowd as Vucicevic wrote his name into Serbian beach soccer history early on.
But the Swiss – seasoned pros at this level – responded and eased to victory thanks to goals from six different players as the home side were again given a lesson in being clinical.
Werder, Wittlin, Hotel, Ott, Mo and Spacca were all on target as the Swiss set up a battle for fifth with Ukraine while the hosts take on Spain looking to avoid finishing bottom.
Voitok, Zborovskyi inspire Ukraine to reign against Spain
Ukraine proved too strong for four-time champions Spain in the Euro Beach Soccer Cup as they ran out 7-3 winners against the holders.
The victors were beaten by Russia on the opening day but bounced back to consistently lead throughout starting with I. Borsuk’s early strike.
The Spanish, downed by Portugal on Friday, levelled through R. Merida but Pajon’s own-goal gave Ukraine a helping hand and, from there, the men in yellow never looked back.
Voitok found the top corner from just inside Spain’s half to extend the lead and, despite Spain responding with a Pablo penalty, Korniichuk’s acrobatic strike kept Ukraine on track.
Pajon made amends for his earlier error with a goal at the right end but Cintas’ foul on Pachev and subsequent red set the tone as Zborovskyi tapped in a rebound from the resulting free-kick before heading in at the far post prior to Voitok’s solo run and finish.
It leaves the Spanish winless in the competition going into Sunday’s seventh-place play-off with Serbia.
Saturday results
Ukraine 7-3 Spain
Hungary 2-7 Italy
Russia (0) 4-4 (2) Portugal
Serbia 1-6 Switzerland
Sunday fixtures
14.15: Ukraine v Switzerland (Fifth-place play-off)
15.30: Hungary v Russia (Third-place play-off)
16.45: Serbia v Spain (Seventh-place play-off)
18.00: Italy v Portugal (Final)
