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The hosts beat UAE in the final, as Thailand prevailed over Australia in the fight for the third place
The Chinese National Team brilliantly claimed the Asian Beach Soccer Cup they are hosting in China, after edging the UAE in a thrilling final, only decided in the Penalty kick shootout. The terrific and solid performance by the Chinese got finally rewarded with their first top-flight international event, after Iran snatched the gold in the last Asian Beach Games.
After a first half on the game where both contenders chose not to uncover their defensive lines and not many chances were seen at either end, China managed to step forward. With a perfectly aimed free kick shot, Wan swept the hosts ahead.
Haitham Mohammed could finally bounce back for the Emirati, before the second leg was over, leaving a dramatic third period in which the final of this Asian Beach Game was supposed to be decided. But it wasn?t, as one goal on either side was to prolong the thrill a bit more?
Hassan Ali?s hit in the last two minutes of the game seemed to be the winner. After that, time ran away for the hosts who were finding themselves unable to respond to UAE?s last hit. But with the hooter just 15 seconds away, Liu brilliantly leveled the score and sent the game into extra time.
The score did not move during the additional three minutes, so the fate of the tournament was necessary to be decided in the penalty kick shootout. And from the 9 meter distance, Ongaro?s lads proved better aimed, with Han and Wan sending his attempts in, something Kamal was not able to parallel in the last penalty taken by the Emirati, thus confirming the Cup would stay in Haiyang.
Goals: 0-1: Wan, min. 7 (2); 1-1: Haitham Mohammed, min. 1 (2) 2-1: Hassan Ali, min. 1 (3); 2-2: Liu, min. 0 (3)
Penalty kick shootout: Wan, in; Saeed Yousif, in; Han, in; Kamal, Wen saves;
Thailand clinches the bronze in Haiyang!
Thailand made today a new step forward in their Beach Soccer history, brilliantly clinching the third place in the Asian Beach Soccer Cup being held in Haiyang. The Thai team upset one of the new guns in the Asian panorama, Australia, showing a great determination and some flashing talented beach soccer, to bag a historic achievement that confirms what they previewed in the BSWW Bang Saen International Cup they hosted in March.
Australia hit first, but that seemed to unchain the Thai reaction. Madtoha, Lapejit and Nanan, with his first goal today, changed things drastically, having the Beach Socceroos swimming upstream for most of the game.
When it seemed the Aussies had achieved the most difficult, leveling the score with Matriccianis?s second goal and Bakis hit, one of the best players of the tournament, Komkrit Nanan, showcased a new instance of the awesome talent he treasures, and lead a counterattack to chip a ball over the Australian goalie for the game?s winner.
The Aussies were not able to counteract that last hit, and the final whistle confirmed a really important win for the Thai, a National Team that is growing year after year and who targets a truly important performance in the IV Asian Beach Games they will be hosting next 2014 in Pukhet.
Goals: 1-0: Matricciani, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Madtoha, min. 5 (1); 1-2: Lepaijit, min. 9 (2); 1-3: Nanan, min. 4 (2); 2-3: Matricciani, min. 1 (2); 3-3: Bakis, min. 0 (3); 3-4: Nanan, min. 5 (3)
ASIAN BEACH SOCCER CUP 2013
Game results:
Thursday, 11th of July, 2013
19:30 ? Australia 7-2 Vietnam
Friday, 13th of July, 2013
16:00 ? UAE 8-3 Vietnam
19:30 ? China 4-3 Thailand
Saturday, 13th of July, 2013
16:00 ? UAE 3-0 Australia
19:30 ? Thailand 1-6 China
Sunday, 14th of July, 2013
16:00 ? Australia 3-4 Thailand (Playoff for the 3rd place)
17:15 ? UAE 2(1)-2(2) China (FINAL)
Individual awards:
MVP: Yi Si Liu (China)
Best goalkeeper: Tingyuan Wen (China)
Top Scorer: Yi Si Liu (China)
