Two goals from Ignat in the final saw Moldova lift the trophy as Lithuania claim final ticket to Figueira da Foz
Moldova are the champions of the Euro Beach Soccer League Division B Regular Stage!
Yet another incredible performance saw the hosts hand Estonia their first loss of the campaign, as Negara and Istrati claimed the MVP and Best Goalkeeper awards.
The Top Scorer award went to Trampota of Czech Republic, who were beaten to third place in their playoff against Kazakhstan.
The final ticket to the Promotion Final in Portugal was won by Lithuania who handily defeated Bulgaria by six goals to one.
Moldova 4-1 Estonia (FINAL)
It had been a perfect tournament for hosts Moldova so far, winning every game in their new state-of-the-art stadium in front of a home crowd, but they went up against a dangerous Estonia side who were also undefeated in Chisinau.
The first goal came midway through the opening period and what a goal it was, as Moldova striker Ignat caught a volley from his own penalty area to loop over the strand keeper.
The first period ended with the hosts enjoying a slim lead, but keeper Istrati, who won the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper award, doubled it with a goal equally as amazing as the first, sending a rocket past his opposite number late in the second period.
There was still time for the EBSL Moldova MVP to net a third before the second break in play, and the overwhelmed Estonians had an uphill battle going into the final 12 minutes.
Ed. Stuf managed to pull one back but when Ignat hit his second incredible goal of the game with a minute to go there was little doubt who would claim the title.
At the final whistle, the stands erupted with joy as the celebrations began immediately on the sand. A dream competition for the undefeated hosts, a dream stadium and a ticket to the Promotion Final in September.
Goals: 1-0: Ignat, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Istrati, min. 3 (2); 3-0: Cojocari, min. 1 (2); 3-1: Ed. Stuf, min. 3 (3); 4-1: Ignat, min. 1 (3);
Czech Republic 1-5 Kazakhstan (3rd-place playoff)
After losing their semi-final battles on Saturday, but with Promotion Final places already secured, Czechs took on Kazakhs in the fight for third on the final day in Chinisau.
Demeshko, with his fourth of the tournament, brilliantly put away the opener midway through the first period and by the time it was over, Bogdanov and Azhikenov had pushed the advantage to three.
Kazybekov bagged number four after the break, but a clinical finish from the big Czech number nine, Vales, pulled one back.
That was all that Martin Dlouhy’s men could manage though, and Azhikenov’s second of the match saw third place wrapped up comfortably for Kazakhstan.
Goals: 0-1: Demeshko, min. 6 (1); 0-2: Bogdanov, min. 10 (2); 0-3: Azhikenov, min. 9 (2); 0-4: Kazybekov, min. 6 (2); 1-4: Vales, min. 4 (2); 1-5: Azhikenov, min. 4 (3);
Lithuania 6-1 Bulgaria (7th-place playoff)
In one of the day’s most important games, the final place at the Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final was up for grabs and one team laid an immediate claim to it.
Nivickov rose to nod in the opener but soon after an incredible feat of trickery and skill saw defenders and keeper beaten directly from a corner by Lebedev, doubling the Lithuanian lead.
Levonauskas then scored either side of the first break, the first a slick penalty and second a low right-footed shot from the wing, to put Mammadov’s men in control of the match. Navickas made it five and then an unfortunate own goal saw Bulgarian defender Nedev redirect the ball into his own goal for six.
Filip Filipov put away his fifth of the campaign by way of consolation but Bulgaria were well beaten, finishing the tournament in eighth, while Lithuania comfortably claim the final place at the Promotion Final in Portugal and will fight for a place in Europe’s elite beach soccer league.
Goals: 1-0: Novickov, min. 7 (1); 2-0: Lebedev, min. 3 (1); 3-0: Levonauskas, min. 1 (1); 4-0: Levonauskas, min. 11 (2); 5-0: Navickas, min. 1 (2); 6-0: Nedev (OG), min. 9 (3); 6-1: Filipov, min. 2 (3);
Slovakia 2-7 Greece (5th-place playoff)
After winning their playoff matches on Saturday, Slovakia and Greece went head to head to contend the fifth-place finish.
Katsoulis had been on good form so far in the campaign, and opened the scoring after five minutes of play. He struck a second just moments later and Mikelatos tucked away a third before the first break.
Slovakia rallied a little in the second period, with Kanyai hitting a brilliant shot almost straight from kick-off and Husty turning in a second at the far post.
But the Greeks were proving too much for the Slovak defence and Katsoulis completed his hat-trick and Sofoulis a brace in the dying moments as they took the final score to a very convincing 2-7.
Goals: 0-1: Katsoulis, min. 7 (1); 0-2: Katsoulis, min. 5 (1); 0-3: Mikelatos, min. 4 (1); 1-3: Kanyai, min. 11 (2); 1-4: Sofoulis, min. 10 (2); 2-4: Husty, min. 1 (2); 2-5: Katsoulis, min. 4 (3); 2-6: Rizos, min. 1 (3); 2-7: Sofoulis, min. 0 (3);
Sweden 0-1 Romania (9th-place playoff)
In a tight battle between the 2018 Promotion Finalists and the debutant Swedes, goals were in short supply in an incredibly physical match.
The first two periods saw chances squandered as the keepers kept their nets undisturbed until the final third when Voica was left totally unmarked in the Swedish penalty area to receive a throw and turn in from close range.
From that point on it was a case of holding on to the slim lead until the final whistle, which eventually confirmed Romania as nine place finishers of the Euro Beach Soccer League Division B Regular Stage Moldova.
Goals: 0-1: Voica, min. 10 (3);
For full details on the Euro Beach Soccer League Moldova, including standings, fixtures, stats and results, head to beachsoccer.com.
