STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
The push has come to shove in the II Asian Beach Games, and there are only four teams left in the battle for the metals. China, Iran, UAE and Oman have earned their chance to get to the final and claim one of the medals awaiting for the strongest three.
One of the magic moments that beach soccer can bring about is, for example, a goalkeeper scoring the opener in the quarterfinals of an international competition, just as the people witnessing the China–Syria could witness today. Akil sent a long range shot straight to the Chinese nets, giving his team the best star they could think about. Even better would things become for Syria some minutes afterwards, when Kbali caught the crossbar rebound from a free kick and snatched it in for the 0-2. Tuluxun would shorten the distance after profiting a ball the Syrian goalie could not trap, but bomber Biazid would reestablish the two hit gap with a spectacular overhead kick at the first minute of the second period.
Then, the moment in which China changed the match’s fate, with a three goal run Han’s powerful left foot and a long distance low shot by Wan would finally manage the first equalizer, and Qui appearing from nowhere slotted in a ball seemingly getting to Akil’s hand. China has completed the comeback, but the game was, by far, not finished, as Sleman proved with a genius trick for the 4-4.
Biazid would turn things round again, and the Syrian team would keep the advantage until the last minutes of the period, but they found how Han’s rocket neutralized it with a free kick. Clock kept ticking down, and any alteration on the scoreboard could be definitive. And so it, was, since the latter hit by Gui was impossible for Syria to reply during the remaining seconds, and gave way to China to the fight for the medals in tomorrow’s semifinals.
Iran has become, if they were not already, one of the teams to be really afraid of, after their emphatic win over Yemen (8-3). The Irani captain, Ali Naderi, with a hat-trick to add to his records, became the hero for his team, and with his first two goals, following Mesigar’s hit, he achieved for his country a 3-1 score at the end of the first period.
Two new goals by Ahmadzadeh and Morshedizadeh turned things apparently too hard for their opponent, but by the end of the second 12 minutes, Yemen had achieved two shorteners to make the score 5-3. Immediately after the break, though, Iran got down to business again and Hassan (2) and captain Naderi made the score 8-3 with three lashes that almost finished the game. Yemen was not able to fight back such a heavy difference, and they could not even get on their way to, so Iran will be in tomorrow’s semifinals, looking for a medal in to get home from these II Asian Beach Games.
The penalty roulette has decided the third semifinalist, letting UAE in and leaving Japan out after a dramatic and thrilling top beach soccer game (2 (2) – 2 (1). Japan needed a last period comeback to gain the chance to fight back in the extra with two goals that equalized the Arabian advantage. Mendes’ squad had been consistent so far and built up a favourable score thanks to the goals by Sadequi and Al Balooshi in the first and the second period, respectively. But the Nippon did not faint, and began again and again a new attempt to conquer Hussein’s goal.
They were finally successful through Kawaharazuka when the countdown signaled 4’ 4’’, and Goto’s effort was worth the prize little afterwards. Unfortunately for them, their adventure will find a 9 meter spot ending. In the second kick for the Japanese, Hussein guessed Uehara’s intentions and gave way to Al Balooshi to punch the ticket to the semifinals.
Last but not least, Oman will also be in the last fight for the medals, after a new exhibition against Bahrain (6-1). Not even 20 seconds took Al Qassmi to give free rein to the contained passion on the stands of this Al Musannah Beach Soccer Stadium, that cried out loud again for the opener for their country. Later on, number seven repeated would take things further with the 2-0 reinforcing the hosts superiority. That was the moment for Bahrain to reply, thanks to Sadeq, but that was not enough to stop the local festival, since Al Balushi’s headed a corner service in to make the score 3-1.The Bahraini could not find the way to stop the beach soccer torrent by the Omani, and the ball kept always next to their goal. Sayed’s red card did not help either…
The mood of the fixture was not different after the second break, and hosts Oman kept punishing their opponents net. Faisal put even more distance in the score and Nassr would raise the 5-1 whit a splendid dive. At that point, Bahrain had already stomached they were out and the party was unstoppable in the stadium. With just few minutes to go, Ishaq would close the festival tapping in a great pass by Yaqoob after a vertiginous counterattack, confirming the best sensations in regard to tomorrow’s semifinals.
Semifinals (14 December 2010)
Match 27 – 17:30 – China vs. UAE
Match 28 – 18:45 – Iran vs. Oman
