STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
Three sides exit the competition after the final day of World Winners Cup group games
16 of the 19 men’s teams will play in Thursday’s knockout matches in the first edition of the World Winners Cup in Alanya.
The three teams who are out of the competition and who will now play in the play-offs for 17th place are Al-Arabi (KUW), Atletico Licata (ITA) and Kebbi BSC (NGA).
The day started bright and early with yesterday’s postponed match…
Alanya BS 5-4 Golsapoosh Yazd (Group A)
After being called off because of a dangerous electrical storm on Tuesday, the hosts’ match against Iranians Golsapoosh Yazd finally took place early on Wednesday morning.
Alanya had found themselves on the wrong side of a 19-goal thriller against Meizhou Hakka on day one, so victory today was essential.
Mokhtar delivered the first blow, nudging the visitors ahead in the first period and leading as the second started. But Alanya, boosted with Brazilian firepower, struck back through Filipe, Bruno Xavier and Yasin.
Akbari pulled Golsapoosh back to 3-2 but then Filipe and Bruno Xavier completed their braces to push the Turkish total to five, bagging the vital points on the final day of group games.
BSC Vybor 2-11 Rostocker Robben (Group E)
Both sides had done enough to make it into the Round of 16 by winning their two previous games, but this bout was for the topspot in Group E.
The prolific form of the German internationals in their previous match continued, as Basiel and Korner were already on the scoresheet by the first break, opening up an early lead for Rostocker Robben.
Four goals for Basiel and three for Korner saw the prolific pair swap numbers from the day before, and both lead the scoring charts for the time being, as Rostocker built up a nine-goal lead, topping the group.
Vybor finish second and will play in the knockout stage.
New Team BS 3-4 BQ All Star Club (Group E)
The final group stage was the last chance for these teams to seal a place in the knockout stage, and the Thai side lead at the first break thanks to a Komkrit double.
The second period began at 2-3 and the match had evened out as each side socred again to keep just one goal between the sides. Komkrit’s hat-trick securing goal prove to be the winner as BQ All Star Club seal a place in the final 16.
New Team, despite not winning in the group stage, will pass to the Round of 16 as one of the best fourth-place finishers.
Levante UD 10-0 Napoli Patron (Group D)
Napoli Patron faced their toughest test yet against the Spanish champs, and without their injured top striker, Nikonorov, the Greek side were swept aside by ten goals.
Levante built a three-goal lead in the opening period and, as they had in their previous matches, they continued to widen an extensive gap as the match progressed.
Napoli Patron could offer little by way of a response and Edu Suarez netted a half of the Spanish side’s grand total of ten goals, as they top the group. Both sides now
Real Münster 10-6 Kebbi BSC (Group D)
Both sides were in dire need of points if they wanted to reach the last 16 as Real Münster and Kebbi BSC faced off on the final day.
It was the German side that staked an early claim, with Ali, Ketz and Hassan netting in the first period. Münster scored two more in the second period, but Kebbi got off the mark to pull themselves back to 6-4.
Real Münster pulled further ahead though as they netted a total of ten goals to secure a place in the Round of 16.
Krylia Sovetov 6-3 Copenhagen BS (Group C)
The Russian club made it three wins out of three after leading Copenhagen for most of the game, and both sides will now qualify for the knockout stage.
After scoring yesterday, Vinogradov got the game underway in the first period and Stepliani got his first goal of the tournament as Krylia lead 2-0 at the first break.
Zharikov made it three in the next period, but then the Danes suddenly came to life in the final third, scoring three. But Stepliani and Zharikov bagged a second each to take the final score to 6-3.
Both qualify for the Round of 16.
Atletico Licata 3-6 Masafi Al Wasat (Group C)
Victory was essential for these sides as both hoped to play in Thursday’s Round of 16 matches.
Licata scored first through Distefano and later Fassari, but the Iraqis were level at the first whistle. The match was tight but it was Masafi Al Wasat who edged ahead in the next period to take a 2-4 lead.
In the final third, Kinani and Al Kinani each completed a brace for Masafi, and as much as the Italians tried to close the gap, time ran out and the Iraq club will play in the next round.
Golsapoosh Yazd 5-8 Meizhou Hakka (Group A)
These two sides, each littered with some of the sport’s biggest names, met in the final Group A game and the beach soccer on show didn’t disappoint.
As the only side yet to pick up points, Golsapoosh Yazd needed a win today to secure a place in the next round. But Jordan Santos and the Martins twins, three of Portugal’s finest players were in inspired form.
Each had netted two goals by the second period, but the Iranians kept chasing with goals from Hamidreza, Mostafa and captain Mokhtar. However, two hat-trick completing strikes from Jordan and Leo Martins took the final score to 5-8.
China’s Meizhou Hakka top the group, while Golsapoosh Yazd will also battle in the head-to-heads.
Shahin Khazar 7-1 Al-Arab (Group B)
After failing to pick up points so far, Al Arabi went into their match against Iranians with aspirations of victory but Shahin soon dampened those hopes.
They led with a strike from Bolobashi after the first period, and Al-Arab weren’t far behind. However, the gap widened as the game progressed, as the Iranians netted two more in the second period.
But the third was when the Kuwait side were blown away, with four more goals to see them exit the comepton, and they will now play for 17th place.
Shahin will contend in the knockout stages.
CR Flamengo 7-4 Baca Gdansk (Group B)
Both clubs had secured a place in the next round but each fought fiercely at the chance of finishing the group in first.
Andre Lourenço found the net after just a minute and then right at the end of the period Lucas put Flamengo two ahead.
Llorenç scored his second of the tournament but the Poles were close behind with Addari and Melyan pulling the game back into sight. But the barrage of Brazilian attacks saw the game slip from Boca’s grasp in the final period.
Flamengo top the group while Boca take third and both will continue into the Round of 16.
Round of 16 Draw
After the final match, the draw for the knockout stage was held and this is how the clubs were drawn:
Rostocker Robben (GER) v Boca Gdansk (POL)
Meizhou Hakka (CHN) v Real Münster (GER)
Masafi Al Wasat (IRQ) v Copenhagen BS (DEN)
Shahin Khazar (IRN) v BQ All Star Club (THA)
CR Flamengo (BRA) v BSC Vybor (UKR)
Krylia Sovetov (RUS) v New Team BS (BEL)
Alanya BS (TUR) v Napoli Patron (GRE)
Levante UD (ESP) v Golsapoosh Yazd (IRN)
For more information on the World Winners Cup head to the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
