Denmark progress to the main qualifier at FBSWC European Qualifier

Czechia and Lithuania pick up their second wins

The second day of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 – European Qualifier action continued in Azerbaijan, as the second round of Pre-Qualifier matches took place…

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Group A
Denmark make it through
Denmark win 3-1 against Greece

Both sides failed to break the deadlock in the opening period, but it was an exciting period, nonetheless. Denmark captain, Dorph fizzed his overhead kick past the post within the first two minutes, as Damm saw a very similar chance missed. For Greece, Katsoulis came close on multiple occasions, denied by Danish goalkeeper, Madsen. The Denmark goalkeeper then had a chance then had a huge chance of his own, slamming the ball off the crossbar for the best chance of the period.

Greece scored the opener in the second period, as Tsitsaris blasted his shot high into the middle of the net past Levin. However, the Danes managed to turn the match around, as Madsen added to his goal scoring tally for the tournament with a volley into the bottom-right corner and shortly after Dorph netted his brace with a volley into the same corner as his goalkeeper.

Early in the third and final period, Frandsen fizzed his acrobatic volley over Greece goalkeeper, Letso to give Denmark a two-goal advantage over their opponents. Tsitsaris had a huge chance to bag his second after breaking away, but dragged his shot wide of the mark. Llorenç Gómez’s side managed to hold on to their lead and qualified for the main qualifier.

Group B
Six points for Czechia
Czechia defeat Malta 4-2 in Baku.

Czechia flew out the blocks in the first period, as Salak fired his volley into the bottom-left corner, but Malta responded quickly as Aguis pounced on a defensive mistake and slid the ball into the bottom corner. Czechia found themselves ahead just over a minute later as captain, Radosta converted his overhead kick low into the left side of the net. However, Radosta found himself scoring at the wrong end soon after, as a lack of communication with his goalkeeper, Karpisek, saw his pass from long distance end up in the bottom-right corner, leaving the scores level at 2-2 after 12 minutes played.

Czechia goal scorers, Salak and Radosta both came close to giving their nation the lead early in the second period, but it was their team-mate, Pekarek who sent them ahead after seeing his glancing header from close range hit the back of the net, following a Folejtar pass from range. Hurab almost added the fourth with 90 seconds left after striking the woodwork, but with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period, Karpisek’s free-kick was blasted into the bottom-right corner to give Czechia a two-goal advantage.

With Malta needing at least two goals in the final period, goalkeeper, Muscat almost pulled one back for his country as his shot from distance was denied by the Czechia keeper. At the other end, Radosta came close to scoring his second of the match, as his strike struck the left post. With no more goals scored in the match, it meant two wins from two for the Czech side.

Plytnikas guides Lithuania to victory
Lithuania overcome Sweden 5-3.

Sweden opened the scoring in under two minutes as goalkeeper, Malmström buried a venomous right footed strike into the top-right corner. Lithuania responded just seconds later as captain, Plynikas scored his second of the tournament, picking out the top-left corner from kick-off. However, Sweden let this adjust their morale as captain, Gustafsson side footed the ball in from close range. Before the period came to its conclusion, Lithuania would find the equaliser through Makutunovičius, striking the post before finding the bottom-left corner. The Lithuanians then found themselves on top late on in the opening 12 minutes, as Plytnikas found his second.

The lead was increased in the second period for Lithuania as Plytnikas found the bottom corner for the fourth and he found the net again with a driven free-kick, to secure his hat-trick and Lithuania’s fifth.

Sweden managed to find a third courtesy of Hjerpebo, as he swiveled and powerfully hit the net with his left foot. That was the only goal scoring action of the period from both sides, with Lithuania securing yet another win.