Euro Winners Cup final 8 confirmed

– Quarter-final match-ups confirmed
– SC Braga reach ninth consecutive quarter-finals
– Copenhagen end Husty dream

Four of the highest-level beach soccer matches will take place on the sands of Nazaré on Friday, as 16 Euro Winners Cup clubs are cut to just eight.

Braga struggle against Boca but reach quarters

As Copenhagen had done in the group stage, Boca Gdansk made life very difficult for the three-time champions Braga in their Round of 16 match. Filipe Silva took the lead but Pietrasiak soon had the Poles back on level terms. Leo Martins retook the lead but Antonio was there once again to deny Braga the advantage straight from kick-off. In the third period, however, Braga moved into a superior gear, as Leo Martins teamed up with his twin brother to complete a hat-trick, winning the match for the Portuguese champions, as well as another knockout tie tomorrow.

Grande Motte enjoyed a comfortable win in their qualification for the quarter-final too, in a French derby which saw them run out 7-4 winners over Marseille. After establishing a 4-1 lead in the first period, they simply had to hang on to the advantage which, despite a late surge from Marseille, remained intact until the end final whistle.

Copenhagen advance to end the Husty dream

Husty, who arrived at the last 16 round motivated by their three wins in the group stage, hit first against Copenhagen through the inevitable Filipov with his 15th of the tournament. But it didn’t take long for the Danish to react as Wegeberg equalised. The teams went into the second period level until Lyng gave the lead to Copenhagen in spectacular style. Slovakian heads dropped after this, and they didn’t manage to react, chasing Danish shadows as a brace from Damm, and Wegeberg’s hat-trick, sealed the final result in 6-1 for the Danish. Copenhagen march into the quarter-final in style, where they will face Grande Motte from France.

Another of the tantalising knockout matches was Alanya versus West Deva. The Turkish side were unbeaten as of yet in Nazaré, but fell behind to a first-period Netinho strike, his sixth of the campaign. Adil and Stankovic scored essential goals to equalise in the second period, and then in the third, a double from Turkish star Cem Keskin helped down the Romanian club by five goals to three, sealing a quarter-final place.

Levante remain unbeaten to edge 12-goal thriller

Levante took the lead in their knockout match against NewTeam Brussels through Romanian keeper Andrei Paul. Swiss recruit Glenn Hodel then doubled the advantage, but the Belgians woke up towards the end of the period as Pinto and Ennya pulled two goals back. In a frantic second period, Fran Mejias scored in both nets and Edu Suarez joined the fray with a no-look overhead chip, taking the score to 7-5. The Spaniards held on fiercely to the lead for the entire 12 minutes of the final period to clinch the quarter-final place against Casa Benfica.

Dias gave Sporting early hope, snatching the lead to have the Lisbon giants in control at the end of the first period. Swiss stars Noel Ott and keeper Eliott turned the score around but an incredible Coimbra strike saw the clubs go in to the third and final period at 2-2. The man of the moment was Brazilian Mauricinho, as the former Best Player in the world netted a late brace to wrap the win up five goals to three. Falfala will now play Rosh Haayin, winners of the Euro Winners Challenge in the quarter-finals.

Pisa and Casa Benfica de Loures both won their groups but the Italian side hadn’t dropped a point. The first period was a tight affair, which ended goalless, but in the second, Spanish international striker Chiky blasted the Portuguese side ahead. In the third period they turned the screw as Luis Henrique and Bernardo made it 3-0 to win the game, and Josep Jr’s consolation goal wasn’t enough to save Pisa. Casa Benfica will face Levante tomorrow to content a place in the semi-finals.

Euro Winners Challenge Final

Having downed every opponent on the route to the final, the thrilling last match of the Euro Winners Challenge between Rosh Haayin and Napoli Patron was a predictably tight tie. Brazilian Ze Lucas smashed the Israeli club ahead in the first period with a low shot into the bottom corner.

Japanese international Jose equalised in the second period, but that was the end of the open play goals, as the match spilled into extra time and then penalties. After eight penalties each, Rosh Haayin held their nerve to snatch the victory, the trophy and an all-important place in the quarter-finals of the Euro Winners Cup.

Playoffs

After being knocked out of the Euro Winners Cup yesterday, the teams not contending knockout matches met to organise the finishing positions in Nazaré. SK Augur Enemat put nine past Portsmouth, BSC Nistru beat Vamos Manage by eight goals to four and Recreativo De Huelva were just edged by Atlas.

Rostocker Robben won against BS Slavia Praha 6-2, Spartak Varna also scored six, beating Bavaria Beach Bazis and ACD O Sótão swept aside Bemannia FC. The winning teams will now fight for 17th place at the Euro Winners Cup, and the teams who were knocked out in the Round of 16 will battle for 9th to 16th.

Watch all of the action live on Recast.

RESULTS

Round of 16

BSC Husty (SVK) 1-6 Copenhagen (DEN)
Grande Motte (FRA) 7-4 Marseille BT (POR)
Cityline Alanya (TUR) 5-3 West Deva (ROU)
Levante UD (ESP) 7-5 Newteam Brussels (BEL
Falfala KQ BSC (ISR) 5-3 Sporting CP (POR)
Pisa BS 2014 (ITA) 1-3 Casa Benfica De Loures (POR)
SC Braga (POR) 5-3 Boca Gdansk (POL)
Rosh Haayin (ISR) 1(7)-(6)1 Napoli Patron (GRE) – Euro Winners Challenge FINAL

Play-offs

FC Baggio (FIN) 3-0 Naxos Beach Soccer (ITA)
Beach Royals Dusseldorf (GER) 3-0 Melistar (ESP)
SK Augur Enemat (EST) 9-1 Portsmouth (ENG)
BSC Nistru (MDA) 8-4 Vamos Manage (BEL)
Recreativo De Huelva (ESP) 5-6 Atlas A.O. (GRE)
Rostocker Robben (GER) 6-2 BS Slavia Praha (CZE)
Spartak Varna (BUL) 6-3 Bavaria Beach Bazis (GER)
ACD O Sótão (POR) 9-1 Bemannia FC (SWE)

For full details on the Euro Winners Cup, including groups, fixtures, results and standings, head to beachsoccer.com.