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The Magyar side bends Poland and snatches the top flight spot in a thrilling Promotion Final
The 6-4 victory for Hungary over Poland was amazing from start to finish as momentum swung like a pendulum and there was so much at stake that both teams had an energy that can only be described as championship caliber. Hungary jumped out to an early lead, relinquished said lead, then overcame and played like the more experienced side. The win puts the Hungarians in Division A and they had already secured a spot in the European Olympics in Baku in 2015 as a result of making the Promotion Final. Poland was ushered into the Promotion Final after a one goal worse differential separated them from the Netherlands. Poland will play in Division B in 2015 in the Euro Beach Soccer League
Hungary has played a very inspired tournament to make it all the way into the Promotion Final and subsequently the European Olympic Games in Baku in 2015. Their tough-as-nails approach allowed them to draw first blood against the Division A Polish squad in the opening minutes. Hungary showed no signs of intimidation as they controlled the tempo and possession for nearly all of the period. Late in the period, Hungarian captain netted the first of two goals within the span of a minute to take a commanding, if not surprising, 3-0 lead into the first break. The three goals seemed to rattle the Polish in the opening period but as if to prove a point, they nailed home a shot within 30 seconds of the period to pull within 3-1. Poland completely turned things around in the middle frame as they drew even, at 4, with the Magyar, late in the period. The two teams wanted another spectacular goal to add to the tally but it was nowhere to be found and the period ended tied at 4.
It was extremely appropriate that these two top flight teams would begin the final period tied after two action-packed periods that had both teams controlling things, only to see things turn around. Hungary used a second goal from Ughy to take the almost immediate lead in the final period, making the score 5-4. The pace was being played at a breakneck speed and both squads were on the verge of scoring multiple times but going into the middle of the frame, only Hungary had scored. The two teams settled into great defensive game plans but were unable find another goal until a goalkeeper to goalkeeper goal from Ficsor put the Hungarians up by two goals with just over two minutes remaining, an dvantage they kept safe to see their dream come true.
Goals: 1-0: Abel, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Ughy, min. 1 (1); 3-0: Jaksa, min. 1 (1); 3-1: Piechnik, min. 11 (2); 3-2: Lenart, min. 7 (2); 4-2: Simonyi, min. 7 (2); 4-3: Piechnik, min. 7 (2); 4-4: Saganowski, min. 4 (2); 5-4: Ughy, min. 11 (3); 6-4: Ficsor, min. 2 (3);
Azerbaijan completes improbable run to 3rd place in Promotion Final
Azerbaijan’s 5-3 win over Turkey was thrilling and nothing was set until the final minutes. The teams fought back and forth until the final whistle at which point, Azerbaijan earned 3rd place in the Division B Promotion Final. Turkey came into the tournament with aspirations of the Promotion Final and Division A status, in fact, they were favoured but after the loss to Azerbaijan on the final day in Torredembarra, they leave in fourth place and will have to retool for next season, which everyone expects.
Azerbaijan closed out the group stage very strong and continued that trend into the early minutes of the 3rd place Promotion Final match against Turkey, as they scored early and then tacked on a goal in the middle of the frame to go up 2-0. Turkey’s offensive power cannot be held down for long and they quickly scored to get to within one before their best scoring power, Cem, scored late in the period to make the score 2-2 at the first break. If the momentum was on Turkey’s side, the Azeri quickly changed that by scoring early in the middle frame to go up once again at 3-2. The Crescent-Stars seem to be able to turn it on and score a goal when they feel like it and after seeing another deficit, they scored on the Azerbaijan defense to tie the score again, this time at 3, as the match went into the final break.
The final period saw the same excitement and incredible energy as the two teams could not find the weakness of the opponent or definitively put distance between each other. Azerbaijan did find the back of the net first in the last period, to go up 4-3. Turkey refused to quit and in one sequence, Cem, hit the crossbar, scrambled for the rebound and then struck the post on the following shot, it was as much as anyone could do without actually scoring. Azerbaijan found the back of the net once more, to put the nail in the coffin of Turkey, giving them a late two goal lead. Azerbaijan blocked a late and dangerous direct kick and stopped all comeback attempts as the game ended with a score of 5-3 for Turkey.
Goals: 1-0: Amid, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Amid, min. Amid, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Adil, min. 5 (1); 2-2: Cem, min. 2 (1); 3-2: Orkhan, min. 10 (2); 3-3: Baris, min. 3 (2); 4-3: Orkhan, min. 7 (3); 5-4: Zeynal, min. 3 (3).
The Czech Republic defeats familiar foe for 5th in Promotion Final
The Czech Republic’s 6-4 victory over England was a nail-biter with both teams scoring great looking goals at unexpected moments, on kick-offs, just as time was expiring, and from long-distance. The win gives the Czech Republic 5th place in the Promotion Final and it was their first win of the weekend. England leaves Torredembarra with two wins, one in overtime, but the way their group played out, they finished third and could not overcome the tough Czech squad in the 5th place playoff. The 6th place finish this year was an improvement from last years’ 8th place Promotion Final finish.
England played extremely well in their final two group stage matches and could have very well been in a different situation had the ball bounced a little differently, but they made the most of the opening seconds in this match, scoring on the kick-off to go up 1-0, less than five seconds into the game. The Czech Republic recovered quickly and scored two goals within two minutes to take the lead, 2-1, midway through the first frame. The scoring did not stop there as Day scored his second of the period, in the final seconds, to bring the teams level at 2 at the first break. The high-octane match continued to run fast but the scoring took a backseat to the defense, and the lone goal in the period was for the Czech Republic, the third of the day for Salak, and the hat-trick gave the Czechs a 3-2 leading going into the final frame.
The Czech Republic has lost and defeated England in the past so they wanted to make sure it was the latter as they rocketed a quality shot on goal that found its way through traffic to give the Czechs a seemingly safe two goal lead heading into the final minutes of the match. England had to use some spectacular goalkeeping to keep things close as they were not able to mount very many substantial attacks at the other end. The Czechs found a way to crack the British defense again and added a late goal to put the game just out of reach for the English, at 5-2. To make things interesting, the Three Lions scored a late goal to put the score at 5-3 but it proved to be inadequate as game ended with both sides exchanging very late goals and the Czech Republic ended up the winners by a score of 6-4.
Goals: 0-1: Day, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Salak, min. 8 (1); 2-1: Salak, min. 6 (1); 2-2: Day, min. 0 (1); 3-2: Salak, min. 5 (2); 4-2: Bowes (O.G.), min. 11 (3); 5-2: Vyhnal, min. 2 (3); 5-3: Temple, min. 1 (3); 6-3: Salak, min. 0 (3); 6-4: Day, min. 0 (3).
Bulgaria waits until final minutes to win 7th place in Promotion Final
The 5-4 win for Bulgaria over Estonia was tight throughout and just wen it looked as one of the teams had gained the momentum for good, the other stopped them in their tracks and scored to switch the general direction of the game. The Bulgarians went down first but bounced back, then watched the feisty Estonians gain their own edge, but Bulgaria had enough left to dispose of the National Team of Estonia. The win gives Bulgaria their first win of the weekend and 7th place in the competitive Promotion Final. Estonia fought well in every match but were unable to secure a win and they leave Torredembarra in 8th place.
Estonia began the match at a whirlwind pace and even scored in the opening seconds, on the kick-off, to put Bulgaria in an early hole. Bulgaria did not stay there long as they tied proceedings with a beautiful header from Martinov, near the midway point in the period. The teams exchanged late goals to head into the first break tied at two. Bulgaria unknotted the match early in the middle frame with a direct kick from Merazchiev, to put his team up 3-2, and added another goal to give them a safe two goal cushion heading into the final frame.
The Lions began the decisive period up by two, but they were not happy with that lead and they went on the attack but it was the opposing Blueshirts who netted the first goal of the period to draw back to within one goal. A clutch goal for Estonia, the second of the match for Tammo, leveled the score at 4 as the match headed into the final minutes of regulation. Bulgaria would not be denied and scored the last goal of the match from their main threat, Filipov, and went on to win 5-4.
Goals: 0-1: Tammo, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Martinov, min. 7 (1); 1-2: Minlibajev, min. 1 (1); 2-2: Tsvetkov, min. 1 (1); 3-2: Merazchiev, min. 11 (2); 4-2: Tuzakov, min. 4 (2); 4-3: Truusalu, min. 9 (3); 4-4: Tammo, min. 6 (3); 5-4: Filipov, min. 2 (3).
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE SUPERFINAL & PROMOTION FINAL TORREDEMBARRA 2014
Sunday 17.08.14
10:15 – Bulgaria 5-4 Estonia (Promotion Final – 7th Place Match)
11:30 – Czech Rep. 6-4 England (Promotion Final – 5th Place Match)
15:15 – Azerbaijan 5-3 Turkey (Promotion Final – 3rd Place Match)
16:30 – Poland 4-6 Hungary (PROMOTION FINAL)
