Two very close matches give Denmark and England three points each
Denmark earns their first points in Malmo
With a hard fought loss to England the day before, Denmark came out and earned a very difficult three points against a very impressive Swedish teams. Nothing was decided until the final minute as the score was tied with under two minutes to go. The final score was 8-6, Denmark.
In a thrilling first period, filled with offensive strikes, both Denmark and Sweden looked like grizzled Beach Soccer international veterans and not teams with one game under their belts. Great passing and team defense kept both teams running up and down the field looking for that elusive first goal. It came exactly midway through the period as the hosts, Sweden, scored first on a fortuitous direct kick that the goalie got a hand on but the ball then bounced in off the post and went in. It gave the Swedes their first lead of the tournament, 1-0. The period ended with a flurry of shots from both teams but the score remained the same, 1-0. Advantage Sweden.
Sweden and Denmark began the second period showing heaps of confidence. Both sides took chance after chance and it first paid off for the Danes as they were penalized deep in the Swedish attacking zone and scored on the direct kick, tying the game at 1-1. But Sweden showed the same resilience that Denmark showed when they were down early. In the middle of the second period, Sweden gave up another goal and found themselves on the wrong side of a one goal game, but they struck right back to tie the game at 2 all. Two more quick goals were exchanged but near the end of the period, the Danish captain, Madsen, scored to make the score 4-3, and that?s how the period would end. The back and forth period set the stage for a final period where either team had the chance to secure their first points at this level of international Beach Soccer competition.
The third period began with the same excitement and energy that the second period showed. Sweden scored early in the period to tie the game again. With each team having scored four goals, the excitement only continued to grow as the period progressed. In the middle of the period, though, Denmark struck quickly with two goals to put them up 6-4, but Sweden would not be intimidated and rebounded with a goal of their own to get within one goal. Sweden spent much of latter part of the third period on the Danish side of the field and the host nation was bound to score again, which they did late in the period to tie the game at 6-6. Just as the game looked to be heading to overtime, the neighboring country, Denmark scored with just over a minute remaining to go ahead by one goal. Denmark would score one more in the period to prohibit a comeback.
Sweden and Denmark both deserved to win the match but the three points and confidence boost goes to Denmark. Sweden will have to wait another day to earn their first three points of the tournament. Denmark now has three points and has a chance to win the BSWW Sweden Cup 2013 with a win on Sunday against The Netherlands.
Goals: 0-1: Hussein, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Raedkjaer, min. 9 (2); 2-1; Dorph, min. 7 (2); 2-2: Chris, min. 6 (2); 3-2: Corfixen, min. 3 (2); 3-3: Saikou, min. 3 (2); 4-3: Madsen, min. 1 (2); 4-4: Erik, min. 10 (3); 5-4; Stromberg, min. 7 (3); 6-4: Stromberg, min. 7 (3); 6-5: Saikou, min. 7 (3); 6-6: Saikou, min. 4 (3); 7-6: Jorgensen, min. 1 (3); 8-6: Raedkjaer, min. 1 (3).
England beats Holland to secure Cup
England took on a very powerful nation and did not flinch. England, due to wins against previously undefeated Holland and Denmark, will be going home with the first annual Beach Soccer Worldwide Sweden Cup 2013. England has yet to play Sweden, who will be aiming for their first three points and avenge their loss earlier today to Denmark.
England showed no signs of being intimidated by the FIFA World Cup Tahiti 2013 qualifying Dutch. They scored almost immediately to go ahead 1-0 early in the first period. Early on, England looked as though England were the team headed to World Cup. England had quite a few chances in the period and ended up scoring three goals in the period using counter attacks, direct kicks and beautiful passing. The three lions went into the first break up 3-0.
The second period was a direct contrast to the first period. The English were making uncommon mistakes while The Netherlands seemed like a different team and in a span of a few minutes the Dutch had erased a three goal deficit and tied the game in the middle of the second period. As the momentum has swung towards Holland, England decided to stop it before things got out of control. Only a minute after the string of Dutch goals, England scored another to put themselves up 4-3. England would add another goal to bring the momentum all the back to their side and the period ended with a score of 5-3, England.
If the first period belonged to England and the second period belonged to Holland, then it should have been expected that the third period was filled with drama as each team looked they were both playing their best beach football of the day. At the same time. Both teams scored, flashed brilliant defense, and had plenty of chances to put the other team away. England did a little more as they score right after The Netherlands scored to pull within one goal at 4-5. England did not want to leave the door open for the Dutch and saved some of their best for last.
England, with six points, and wins against Denmark and The Netherlands, England will take home the Cup come Sunday afternoon. The Netherlands will take on a very tough Danish side that earned their first points today after a thrilling victory over Sweden.
Goals: 0-1: Mitchell, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Temple, min. 6 (1); 0-3: Evans, min. 1 (1); 1-3: V. Dieren, min. 2 (2); 2-3: Ax, min. 7 (2); 3-3: Kaleveld, min. 7 (2); 3-4: Younie, min. 5 (2); 3-5: Day, min. 2 (2); 4-5: Klijbroek, min. 11 (3); 4-6: Corbett, min. 9 (3).
Match Results:
Saturday, 13th of July, 2013
Denmark 8-6 Sweden
The Netherlands 4-6 England
Upcoming Matches:
Sunday, 14th of July, 2013
13:00 ? The Netherlands vs Denmark
14:15 ? Sweden vs England
