Euro Winners Challenge 2023: Day 3 Round-up

AD Buarcos 2017 and SM Jalles qualify for the quarter-finals

The final two quarter-final places for the Euro Winners Challenge were decided at the Estádio do Viveiro – Jordan Santos on Sunday…

WATCH ALL MATCHES LIVE ON BEACHSOCCERTV.COM – SIGN UP HERE!

Group A
Vila Flor score nine to win in dominant fashion
With Vila Flor’s and Miehet’s fate settled prior to this encounter, both teams wanted to go out with a bang in this year’s Euro Winners Challenge group stages.

The Portuguese side burst out the blocks early on with two quick goals from Silva and Fernandes to themselves a two goal lead going into the first interval.

In the second period, an own goal from Särkiniemi awarded Vila Flor their fourth and another three goals followed for them as Fernandes converted his second of the day, as well as strikes from Paixao and Viana.

Fernandes began the final period by completing his well deserved hat-trick, and scoring his fourth of the game with a goal from team-mate, Oliveira in between, as Vila Flor finished the group stage with a superb 9-0 victory.

AD Buarcos 2017 are quarter-final bound
Qualification was still all up for grabs in Group A, as AD Buarcos 2017 took on AO Kefallinia who were level on three points heading into the game.

Tsiakalos put the Greek side ahead in the first period, but almost instantaneously, AD Buarcos were level as Gerson smashed home a fantastic volley from kick-off.

The Portuguese side then went ahead at the beginning of the second phase of play as Francisco hit the back of the net within 25 seconds, and the two sides couldn’t be separated once again in the second period as the score was now 2-2, with Gritzalis leveling.

AD Buarcos 2017 managed to pull away in the final 12 minutes, as a brace from Mira and a goal from Joao Mota booked their place in the last eight.

Group B
Leixões SC finish top of Group B
Leixões SC and their fellow countrymen opponents, AD Nazaré 2022 had both qualified for the knockout stages heading into this fixture, but top spot in the group was very much still on the line.

Belchior opened the scoring for the group leaders, as Duarte Mendes converted to put the local side level pegging. Leixões SC took the lead once again as Pedrinha’s free-kick beat goalkeeper, Rolon as the net rippled for their second time.

The second period got underway and Belchior managed to find his second of the day, followed by a goal from top scorer Santos to make the score 4-1. With just over 60 seconds remaining in the period, Thales Nascimento brought one back for Nazaré 2022.

Nazaré 2022 gave themselves a lifeline at the start of last period as Mathias Martinez scored a beautifully placed penalty. Belchior was delighted as he found his third and Leixões’ fifth of the game to become joint top scorer and for his team to finish in first place in Group B.

GD Sesimbra record their first win at the Euro Winners Challenge
With a group stage exit inevitable for both teams prior to kick-off, GD Sesimbra and Portsmouth BSC had the chance to give everything they could for one last time in Nazaré.

It was the English team to score first as Werneck’s long range free-kick was blasted into the bottom corner, as two late goals from Diogo Bernardo and Gonçalo Mantorras, had the Portugal-based side in front at the break.

Sesimbra scored their third of the match as Bernardo found his second, but Portsmouth wouldn’t lie down though, as Henderson buried just over a minute after. It was Doutel to give Sesibra the 4-1 lead to give his side some breathing space heading into period three in this encounter.

Portsmouth played with intensity in the period, but couldn’t find the goals they were looking for. Heading into the final stages of the match, Wood’s own goal gave Sesimbra their fifth and first win of the tournament.

Group C
SM Jalles finish second to qualify
After FC Genappe secured qualification on Day 2, there was only one place left to qualify in Group C as CB Viseu and SM Jalles faced off with both side’s level on points heading into the match.

After being so reliable in front of goal throughout this tournament, Bizot got his name on the scoresheet for the fifth time in the Euro Winners Challenge 2023 equalling top scorer, Santos to open the scoring and put the French side ahead.

In the second period, SM Jalles struck back to equalise courtesy of Hernani. Both sides attempted to score their second of the game as the period continued, but couldn’t make the breakthorugh.

The match turned on it’s head in the final period as the French-based side took the lead for the first time as Corregelongue’s flicked header made the score 2-1 with under a minute to play. Jalles managed to hold on at the end to take the final quarter-final spot from Group C.

A penalty shootout secures third consecutive win for FC Genappe
To conclude Group C, bottom of the group São Domingos faced top of the group, FC Genappe.

In the opening period chances came few and far between, as both side’s failed to capitalise on their opportunities, and with four minutes played the opening goal goal arrived, scored by Prazeres for his third of the tournament to give the underdogs the lead. However, seven minutes into the second period, Genappe were back on level terms through Be Saraiva.

No goals came in the third period from either side, which meant an addition of three minutes extra time and a penalty shootout. FC Genappe won the shootout by four goals to three, meaning a third straight win for them and three defeats on the bounce for São Domingos.

Group D
Minots de Marseille leave it late to win Group D
The top two sides from Group D met in their last group stage fixtures of the Euro Winners Challenge 2023, knowing that were both going to be playing in the next round, as local team, ACD O Sótão faced Minots de Marseille.

Sansoni sent the French team ahead with around half of the first period played, and the lead was doubled soon after through Basquaise. Sótão fought back quick however, as Tiago Légua netted his second and third of the tournament to draw his side level, and with a couple of minutes to go in the first period, Samual Lopes smashed his driven free-kick into the bottom right corner.

Samoun scored first in the second period for Minots de Marseille, but from kick-off, Duarte Florência put his foot through the ball as it glided in at the near post, to the delight of the local crowd.

Sansoni scored his second of the match in the first two minutes to make the score 4-4, as Francisco Mota denied the France-based side once again. Minots de Marseille continued to put the pressure on the Portuguese outfit and eventually got what they wanted as Samoun, Dhaouadi, and Basquaise all scored in the last five minutes to win the match and finish at the peak of Group D.