Both sides make their cup final debuts in the competition
The semi-finals of the Euro Winners Cup on Saturday in Nazaré to determine who would qualify to compete for the 2023 title…
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5th-8th place playoffs
To get proceedings in Men’s Euro Winners Cup action started, two matches were played to decide the fixtures for Sunday’s 7th/8th place playoff and 5th/6th place playoff.
In the first match, BSC VIT came out 8-4 winners against Euro Winners Challenge champions, Minots de Marseille.
This was followed by an enthralling encounter, as 2022 Euro Winners Cup finalists, SC Braga beat Greek side, ATLAS A.O. with a 5-3 full-time result.
Semi-finals
Falfala KQ BSC score four to qualify for the final
The first semi-final match saw Spanish side, Recreativo Huelva face Israeli team, Falfala KQ BSC. This was a momentous occasion for both sides involved of course, but it was even more special, as whoever won would become the first team to participate in the Euro Winners Cup final from their respective nations.
The opening period didn’t see any goals, however, the match was end-to-end with both team looking to break the deadlock early on in the match.
It took until the second period for the first goal to be scored and it went the way of the Greek side. Ott capitalised on a lapse in concentration from the Spaniards with an interception deep into the oppositions half, setting team-mate Amer Yatim in a one-on-one situation, as he calmly slotted home for the lead.
The lead was doubled soon after, as Eliott’s kick was acrobaticly flicked on by Moreb, as it landed perfectly for Jabareen for a flush half-volley into the top corner for the 2-0 advantage.
Eliott’s long range effort captured the third goal for his side, as the shot flashed into the top right corner, and they weren’t done yet, as Ott found the back of the net just over a minute later as his free-kick was saved, but he smashed home the rebound, as the Israelis led 4-0 after 24 minutes played.
In the final period, Recreativo Huelva found two goals via Hernández and Gerlan, but it wasn’t enough to catch their opposition, as Falfala KQ BSC became the first Israeli side in history to get to the Euro Winners Cup final.
Bruno Xavier wonder-strike ensures win
The second Euro Winners Cup semi-final was a clash between Italian side, Lenergy Pisa BS and local team, ACD O Sótão, hosted at the Estádio do Viveiro – Jordan Santos.
The Portuguese side came flying out the gates, as Benjamin JR opened the scoring in just over twenty seconds into the first period, as the stadium was hysterical. They went 2-0 minutes, as Coimbra broke away quickly to start the attack for ACD O Sótão, as he squared the ball to Ardill and he finished into the bottom right corner.
Three minutes after the local side’s second, there was a goal at the other end as Ste Maranai netted to cut the deficit in half, as a minute later, Lenergy Pisa BS were awarded a free-kick deep in their own half and Bruno Xavier slammed it home to silence local crowd and secure the equaliser.
With the second period underway, both sides were looking to go ahead, and the Italian team took the lead for the first time in the fixture as after combination of bounces in front of the ACD O Sótão, Simo Marinai managed to execute a looping header that found the net.
Despite an onslaught of pressure from ACD O Sótão in last period, Lenergy Pisa BS held on to make their first Euro Winners Cup final.
To find out more about the Euro Winners Cup 2023 make sure to visit beachsoccer.com
Results
5th-8th place playoffs
BSC VIT 8-4 Minots de Marseille
ATLAS A.O. 3-5 SC Braga
Semi-finals
Recreativo Huelva 2-4 Falfala KQ BSC
Lenergy Pisa BS 3-2 ACD O Sótão
