Terribly hard-fought semifinals send SC Braga and Sable Dancers to square off for the third place of this Euro Winners Cup 2014
Kristall run past Sable Dancers to get to the final
Beach Soccer Club Kristall will have the chance to succeed compatriots Lokomotiv Moscow as owners of the European thrown, after bending Swiss champions Sable Dancers in the first of the semi-finals of this Euro Winners Cup 2014 taking place in Catania (Italy). The Russian side utilized perfect offensive mechanisms and efficient defense to limit the chances of the Alpine team. Besides, having the best player in the World within your ranks, Brazilian Bruno Xavier, gives any team the extra boost to overcome any resistance they might face.
It was precisely the current adidas Golden Ball award winner the one to open the score, sweeping Kristall ahead. Paporotny, with a long-range missile widened the distance, and Aksenov made it 3-0 before the first hooter. If first have had a clear-cut Kristall colour, the second period was all painted in Sable-Dancer’s yellow. The Swiss side cut the distance with two hits by part of their Tahitian powder, Labaste and Angelo Tchen, and got just one goal behind.
Schirinzi would manage to equalize the score just two minutes into third period, but third frames seem to be Russian’s favourites, as they show the capacity to gear up and push the gas pedal to increase the pace of the match. With four goals in little more than five minutes, Kristall cleared their way to the final, and made sure Sable Dancers found no reasons to believe an eventual comeback was possible. The Swiss could finally manage to pull one back, but that was the end of the way for them, as Kristall stoutly advances to this Euro Winners Cup 2014 final.
Goals: 1-0: Bruno Xavier, min. 5 (1); 2-0: Paporotny, min. 1 (1); 3-0: Aksenov, min. 0 (1); 3-1: Labaste, min. 6 (2); 3-2: Angel, min. 3 (2); 3-3: Schirinzi, min. 9 (3); 4-3: Bruno Xavier, min. 9 (3); 5-3: Bruno Xavier, min. 8 (3); 6-3: Aksenov, min. 3 (3); 7-3: Paporotny, min. 3 (3); 7-4: Taiarui, min. 0 (3);
Milano earns the right to represent Italy in the European finale
Host country Italy will finally have one representative in the final of the Euro Winners Cup 2014 taking place in Catania (Sicily). Milano Beach Soccer proved to be a really experienced and focused side, as he bent Portuguese champions with a laudable beach soccer knowledge display. Leo’s inspired performance this afternoon, with three goals, was the key for the rossoneri to rule out the Lusitanians.
The match was as balanced and hard-fought as expected in such high stages of such a competitive tournament, and only the 0-3 run by Milano in the second half of the game unknotted the battle. Stroke exchange was the predominant keynote during the first compasses. Always with the rossoneri hitting first, though, but with SC Braga immediately replying.
This pattern was interrupted when Leo wanted to complement compatriot Eudin’s 2-3 with a 2-4 and a 2-5. That was the game’s turning point, as the Portuguese champions would never manage again to get close enough in the score, and Milano perfectly knew how to keep their opponents ahead. One goal more in each end in the dying minutes of the game changed nothing, and Milano Beach Soccer was granted the chance to fight for the European crown tomorrow against Kristall.
Goals: 0-1: Amarelle, min. 7 (1); 1-1: Tiago, min. 4 (1); 1-2: Leo, min. 6 (2); 2-2: Jonas, min. 4 (2); 2-3: Eudin, min. 2 (2); 2-4: Leo, min. 1 (2); 2-5: Leo, min. 8 (3); 3-5: Jonas, min. 7 (3); 3-6: Longo, min. 1 (3)
Artur Music claws way to Sunday 5th place showdown
The 4-3 win for Artur Music from Ukraine over BSC Lokomotiv of Russia was nail-biter from start to finish and came down to the last minutes as one team clung to a one goal lead. Artur Music was that team and they upset the defending Euro Winners Cup champions. The Ukrainian club will play Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC on Sunday in the 5th place match, while Lokomotiv will take on Catania BS in the match for 7th place.
The first period showed how close these two teams´ levels were as both had shots on goal, great saves, players sacrificing their bodies for blocked shots, and the frame ended with a tie, still knotted at 0. The second period was like a chess match with each coach making substitutions and changing tactics but the Russian club was the first to score, midway through the period. Minutes later the Ukrainian club leveled the score at 1 and even added an extra goal to head into the final period up 2-1. The Russian side opened the third period with a goal but Artur Music responded to regain their one goal lead. Lokomotiv, as they always seem to do, retied the match, late, and looked to have the momentum but with the chess pieces continually moving Artur Music made all the right moves and scored the deciding goal to finish the game up 4-3.
Goals: 1-0: Peremitin, min. 6 (2); 1-1: I. Borsuk, min. 3 (2); 1-2: Zborovsky, min. 0 (2); 2-2: Fernando, min. 7 (3); 2-3: Korniichuk, min. 5 (3); 3-3: Fernando, min. 3 (3); 3-4: Korniichuk, min. 2 (3).
Goldwin Pluss advances to 5th place match on penalties
The 4(4)-4(3) win for Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC of Hungary over Catania BS from Italy was barn-burner from start to finish with both sides absorbing and delivering blows as momentum shifted like tectonic plates during an earthquake. The win for Goldwin will give them a shot at 5th place on Sunday when they take on Artur Music. The hosts, Catania had chances to win and had the home crowd behind them the entire time but were unable to deliver, though they will delight beach soccer fans with another tough match on Sunday against former Euro Winners Cup champions, BSC Lokomotiv.
The opening minutes of the first period were dictated by the offense and it paid off as both teams scored early and then settled in defensively to keep the score even at one as the first period whistle blew. There were reflections of the first period in the second as the Hungarian side and Italian sides scored early and then turned up their defensive intensity to limit the opponents offensive chances and the period ended tied at 2. The final frame began with a flurry of shots and multiple connections and heading into the final minutes nothing was decided, with Goldwin only up by one goal. The Hungarian defense could not maintain the lead as they conceded a late penalty kick goal, and the match headed to overtime. Both sides held each other scoreless in the extra period. The desire to win was evident in both clubs´ eyes but Goldwin prevailed in the shootout.
Goals: 0-1: Gabriel, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Angyalos, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Rodrigo, min. 7 (2); 2-2: Angyalos, min. 5 (2); 3-2: Spaca, min. 9 (3); 4-2: Spaca, min. 6 (3); 4-3: Rodrigo, min. 6 (3); 4-4: Franceschini, min. 0 (3).
Penalties: Fekete, goal; Platania, goal; Coimbra, goal; Rodrigo, goal; Angyalos, goal; Franceschini, goal; Besenyei, goal; Zurlo, block.
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)
SEMIFINALS
BSC Lokomotiv 3-4 Artur Music
BSC Kristall 7-4 Sable Dancers
Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC 4(4) – 4(3) Catania BS
Milano BS 6-3 SC Braga
Upcoming Matches:
Sunday, 8th of June, 2014
15:00 – BSC Lokomotiv vs. Catania BS (Play-off for 7th place)
16:15 – Artur Music vs. Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC (Play-off for 5th place)
17:30 – Sable Dancers vs. SC Braga (Play-off for 3rd place)
18:45 – Kristall vs Milano BS (FINAL)
