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Second day at Scheveningen has almost everyone still having chances to get into Division A and Division B deciders
Romania makes Portugal’s way to Superfinal really hard
Romania gave Portugal a rather bitter debut in the Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal, with a surprising victory that leaves Portugal needing a huge victory over Switzerland tomorrow to fight for a place in the continental decider on Sunday. Ze Miguel’s side were surprised by the efficiency of Farcas’ side, who, thanks to a 0-4 run after Luis Vaz’s opener, got things really yellow-coloured by second period.
After that surprising advantage managed by the Carpathians, it was really tough for Portugal to keep confident on their possibilities, as it was almost the end of the second twelve minutes, and the enthusiastic Romanians seemed really determined today not to let anyone turn the score around. Luis Vaz shortened the gap, but Luci immediately replied to reestablish the 3-goal wall. Madjer, though, kept the Portuguese lights on with the 5-3 before the second period was horned off. That could be a key hit for the Lusitanians…
With Jose Maria’s 4-5, the comeback seemed closer than ever, but, at the same tiome, the clock was quickly ticking down for Ze Miguel’s side. In the remaining minutes, Romania managed to close all doors, and clinched three great points, that, notwithstanding, only grant them the possibility to play for the third place on Sunday. With this defeat, in turn, Portugal will need a really wide victory over Switzerland tomorrow (more than 5 goals), to see themselves in the Superfinal.
Goals: 1-0: Luis Vaz, min. 7 (1); 1-1: Maci, min. 7 (1) ; 1-2 : Tase, min. 5 (1) ; 1-3 : Boata, min. 6 (2) ; 1-4 : Boata, min. 3 (2) ; 2-4 : Luis Vaz, min. 2 (2) ; 2-5 : Luci, min. 2 (2) ; 3-5 : Madjer, min. 0 (2); 4-5: José Maria, min. 7 (3);
Loud victory secures Italy, at least, the fight for bronze
The Azzurri offered a brilliant performance today, in their second game in The Hague, and rolled over Poland to secure, at least, the fight for the third place in the Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal 2012. Indeed, the Italians have options to get in the Superfinal decider, too, but this is not at their hands, as they need Poland to beat Russia in tomorrow’s game to achieve so.
Esposito’s side could not let another day without bagging something positive, especially after the notable display yesterday against the defending champions earned them nothing. Despite being given the ticket to The Hague by Portugal, in the last game of the regular phase, the Azzurri want to make the most of their chance, proving than they are in a much better moment than what results have been lastly showing. Banking on a superb Ramacciotti today, and a brilliant Gori, the Transalpine inflicted the Polish a heavy defeat to set it clear.
After a goalless first period, the Italian machinery got in motion, and the second stage was enough for them to finish the game. Ramaccitti and Gori, with a double each, and Corosiniti raised an almost definitive 5-0, with ‘Rama’ dropping the curtain of the game by rounding his hat-trick for the 6-0. With the chance of fighting for a place in the continental podium already secured, Italy has now to wait and see if Poland is able to repeat the victory over Russia they achieve in Moscow to see themselves in the Superfinal.
Goals: 0-1: Ramacciotti, min. 9 (2); 0-2: Ramacciotti, min. 7 (3); 0-3: Gori, min. 6 (2); 0-4: Gori, min. 5 (2); 0-5: Corosiniti, min. 3 (2); 0-6: Ramacciotti, min. 1 (3)
Terribly fought victory gets Ukraine on the road to Promotion
The label of favourites did not do any good to Ukraine in their first match in the Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final taking place in The Hague this weekend. The Czech Republic offered a strong resistance today, and the Ukrainians could not see the points falling to their hands until the very last stage of the game. Now they will need to ratify their way to the Promotion Final against France tomorrow.
The favourites for the Promotion Final berth found actually a really surprising beginning of the game. Not because the Czechs were the ones to hit first, which is something rather usual in such a goal-to-goal sport as Beach Soccer, but due to the fact that they found it really hard to counteract this first stroke. It was not until mid second period that Korniichuk volleyed the equalizer in.
But with that 1-1, the job was not done yet, and it took Bozhenko’s side a new long spell to get finally hold of the game. The Czech goalkeeper, Thomas Zidlicky, wanted to be up to what his teammate Petre Visek had done yesterday, and held a wonderful performance, denying the Ukrainians every chance they tried. All of them, but the latter, as Andrieiev could finally get the points to his side with little more than one minute to go. This goal mean for the Ukrainians the chance to depend only on themselves to access the Promotion Final, with France, who they are take on tomorrow, looking for the same goal. The Czechs, in turn, can aim no higher than the 5th place in the Division B.
Goals: 0-1: Chalupa, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Korniichuk, min. 8 (2); 2-1: Andrieiev, min. 1 (3);
Late awakening saves some chances for Holland
Under such an amazing atmosphere as the one raised this afternoon at the Scheveningen Beach Stadion, no one could think on Belarus upsetting the Netherlands National Team in their first game in the Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final they are hosting in The Hague. But the Belarusian did manage to ruin the Dutch debut, and only a third period double by Koswal kept options to Kokmeijer’s side get to the match for a Division A berth.
Karpau and Krupitsa became a real nightmare for the Orange, as, with two goals each, had the score 0-4 down for Netherlands. Three goals in the first period, and another one in the second were the clearest evidence that Holland had not his day today, something even further confirmed with a penalty kick missed by Aijach. That result meant things getting almost impossible for Kokmeijer’s side, as only a real thrashing on Germany would get them to the Promotion Final.
Fortunately for the hosts, their target man, captain Leo Koswal could make things up a bit, with two goals that leave a wider door open to the fight for the Beach Soccer elite. The two nets by the stout forward, despite not preventing the defeat, grant better chances to The Orange, who will now need to win Germany with a distance wider than three goals to get into the Promotion final.
Goals: 0-1: Karpau, min. 8 (1); 0-2: Krupitsa, min. 3 (1) ; 0-3 : Karpau, min. 1 (1) ; 0-4 : Krupitsa, min. 6 (2); 1-4: Koswal, min. 10 (3); 2-4: Koswal, min. 9 (3)
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE SUPERFINAL & PROMOTION FINAL THE HAGUE 2012
Fri 24.08.12
10:00 – Portugal 4-5 Romania – Division A
11:15 – Poland 0-6 Italy – Division A
16:15 – Ukraine 2-1 Czech Republic – Division B
17:30 – Netherlands 2-4 Republic of Belarus – Division B
Matches for tomorrow
Sat 25.08.12
11:30 – France vs. Ukraine
12:45 – Switzerland vs. Portugal
14:00 – Russia vs. Poland
15:15 – Netherlands vs. Germany
