Day 1: Women’s Euro Beach Soccer League

Italy beat Spain in their first ever official match
England turn the game around to beat Ukraine
The Czechs fought back but Portugal took the home win

Remember that you can watch the highlights of the matches, as well as tomorrow’s live games, on Recast – click here!

Dream debut for Italy

The first game of the Women’s Euro Beach Soccer League 2022 was a special one as it was Italy’s first ever official match. And in front of them were none other than the world ranking leaders Spain.

The Italians couldn’t have asked for a better start, with Pisa giving the perfect answer to a throw-in to find the back of the net with a left-footed shot with just two minutes played. Pisa wrote her name in the history books as the author of Italy’s first-ever official goal.

The Squadra Azzurra doubled the lead with a wonder strike from Saggion. The Italian hit a free-kick from her own half into the top bin to make it 2-0 two minutes into the second period.

The Spanish hit back through Corbacho three minutes later with a goal that gave Ruotolo no chance and bolstered the hopes of La Roja. Cristian Mendez’s team went on to look for the equaliser and Carol hit the crossbar to send a warning to the Italians.

But it was the day for a dream debut for Italy who saw Laia make a couple of saves denying the third goal before Vecchione stepped up to the penalty spot to make it 3-1 in the final period.

A bicycle kick from Lorena cut the distance between the two teams with six minutes to go but Italy held off Spain until the final whistle and secured their first-ever victory with the scoreboard registering 3-2 for the Squadra Azzurra.

Goalkeepers protagonists as England beat Ukraine

England and Ukraine stepped on the sand looking to start off on the right foot in the Women’s Euro Beach Soccer League.

A free-kick from Dekhtiar from her own half straight into the top right corner broke the deadlock in favour of the Ukrainians six minutes into the game.

The Synʹo-zhovti extended the lead after James deflected a shot into her own net making it 2-0 before the first break.

But the English reacted in the second period, first through Barron with a right-footed shot across the box that found the back of the net and motivated the Lionesses for the comeback.

It was goalkeeper Haughton who equalised the match with a free-kick that travelled the length of the whole pitch with Slavych unable to hold it.

Three minutes later, Slavych did save a shot from Haughton but on the rebound hit Dekhtiar and deflected the ball into her own net, giving England the lead for the first time in the match.

The goalkeeper show continued one minute later, this time it was Slavych who celebrated after seeing Haughton failing to save her shot.

But the draw only lasted for half a minute, as Slavych hit another long-range attempt, this time intercepted by Martin who with an open goal made it 4-3 for England.

Steven Black’s team held on to the result in the last period to claim three essential points in their opening encounter.

Hosts win

Portugal and Czech Republic stepped on the sand for Matchday 1 closer.

The hosts controlled the first period and the first goal was signed by Jamila eight minutes into the match. The goalkeeper shot from her own box to break the deadlock.

Ema Toscano made it 2-0 by giving the best response to a throw-in one minute before the break.

The Czech reaction started in the first minute of the second period with Hruškova cutting the distance and just two minutes before the second break Čulová equalised.

The Portuguese retook the lead after the start of the third period when Érica showed up between two opponents to deflect a throw from Jamila into the net.

Carolina made it 4-2 after putting pressure on Frolikova to steal the ball and shooting with the left foot to give back a two-goal lead to the home team.

45 seconds later Luiza Meza forced Mody to lose the ball and Carolina was quicker on the rebound and took the opportunity to score a brace and turn the final result to 5-2.