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Ukraine shocked their hosts and England downed old rivals Spain to reach Sunday’s final
– England down Spain in tight semi-final
– Ukraine edge the hosts in Extra Time
– Spain’s Cris leads goal scoring
England and Ukraine will face off in the Sunday’s final in Catania.
Qualification to the World Beach Games securely in the bag, the sides now turn their attention to lifting the trophy of the ANOC World Beach Games European Qualifier.
England defeated Spain thanks to a late Molly Clark brace, while Klipachenko won Ukraine’s semi-final against Italy in Extra Time!
In the playoff for fifth place, Czech Republic took their first win in three years, which came against Sweden, as Macháčková’s winner in the last period took the final score to 3-2, sealing a fifth-place finish while debutants Sweden take sixth.
Remember you can watch the full matches, as well as the highlights, on Recast!
Ukraine defeat Italy in Extra Time
Hosts Italy wanted to put the previous day loss against England behind them by booking a place in the final in front of their home crowd against Ukraine.
But it was the Ukrainians who scored first, when two and a half minutes into the game Dubytska put the ball into the top corner of Ruotolo’s goal, sending Klymenko’s team into second period in front.
Ukraine’s advantage would be increased at the second period’s kick-off with a shot from Dekhtiar rebounding on the sand and betraying Italy’s defence. Del Duca’s side reacted and Olivieri took her chance when she found herself face-to-face with the goalkeeper cutting the difference between the teams back to one goal ahead of the final twelve minutes.
The home fans would cheer again at the beginning of the third period as Vecchione equalised, but it didn’t take long for Kostiuk to score Ukraine’s third goal. The tie remained at high level of intensity, deserving a dramatic finish that came when Illiano made it 3-3 with only 17 seconds to go, forcing Extra Time.
Halfway through the three extra minutes, Klipachenko found the way to the prolific Ukraine’s fourth and sealing the qualification to the final of the ANOC World Beach Games European Qualifier.
England defeat old rivals Spain to reach the final
Molly Clark’s brace in the last period won a place in the final for the 2019 World Beach Games silver medallists, who went up against a team they know very well, the world’s top-ranked side, Spain.
Terrassa Bonaire’s Cris turned her defender to drill home the first of the match, taking her tournament tally to five, and the first period continued with end to end beach soccer from the gold and silver medallists from the previous edition of the World Beach Games.
Meiwald rose unmarked in the box to nod in a header before the first break, seeing the Lionesses and La Roja begin the second period on level terms.
No changes in the score came in the next 12 minutes, as Hannah Haughton kept England in the match against the ever dangerous Spanish strikers.
In the third, however, the world’s Best Player Molly Clark seized control of the game with a double, the second of which a dramatic footrace to a loose ball, which she poked home to take the final score to 3-1.
England will face Ukraine in the final of the ANOC World Beach Games European Qualifier.
RESULTS (03/09)
Semi-finals
England 3-1 Spain
Ukraine 4-3 Italy *AET
Playoffs (5th place)
Sweden 2-3 Czech Republic
The matches are scheduled from 29 August to 4 September at See Sicily Arena Beach Stadium, and will decide which five men’s and four women’s national teams will represent Europe at the 2023 ANOC World Beach Games in Bali.
For full details on the ANOC World Beach Games European Qualifier Catania 2022, head to beachsoccer.com.
