Italy and Turkey await in the finals

Turkey will fight for promotion

Turkey has earned a place in next Sunday’s Euro Beach Soccer League Promotional Final, after the epic victory they have achieved today against Azerbaijan. The Azeri’s competitiveness brought a contested game, in which both teams fought for the command of the score. Just as they did yesterday, the Ottoman fielded a new miracle to turn the score around in the las minutes of the match. Today, they did not only achieve the equalizer, but also a last-minute winner that opens the Promotion Final door for them.

Tamer opened the score in the first period for the Turkish, but Azeri’s reaction in the second period made the score 3-1, thanks to Huseynov, Baghirov and Sultanov. Things seemed really difficult for the Ottoman at that point, not only because the distance in the score, but mainly because Azerbaijan’s display. Dzhabarov’s team were not only conceding no goal chances, but reaching Mutlu’s goal in danger.

But if the second period had an unmistakable blue colour, the third one fell absolutely on the Turkish side. First, Onur and Ayhan achieved the 3-3 equalizer, and, after Zeynalov’s seemingly winner 4-3, Ayhan and Tamer fielded the unimaginable with only two minutes to go, to earn the tickets for the Promotion Final.

Goals: 0-1: Tamer, min. 1 (1); 1-1: Huseynov, min. 9 (2); 2-1: Sultanov, min. 5 (2); 3-1: Baghirov, min. 1 (2); 3-2: Onur, min. 11 (3); 3-3: Ayhan, min. 10 (3); 4-3: Zeynalov, min. 7 (3); 4-4: Ayhan, min. 2(3); 4-5: Tamer, min. 1 (3).

Hungary and France to fight for their chance

France and Hungary will face tomorrow for the second slot in the Promotion Final, after the Magyars managed a hard-fought victory over England. Although the English got in command in the beginning of the fixture, De Celis’ side turned the score around to earn three points that equal the French registers. Once England has been taken out of the race, we will have to wait until tomorrow to figure out who will contest Turkey for a top-flight role next season.

The English put the game under their control in the first period, thanks to Gould and Evans. By the 7^th minute, the Three Lions were 0-2 up, and although Badalikh shortened the distance in the second period, Black immediately made it 1-3. England felt strong at that moment but Hungary, although being two goals down, had been growing for that last minutes, getting ready for their moment to react.

And their moment came. Ughy and Simonyi cut the distance out before the end of the second period, and Badalik completed the comeback in the first minute of the third one. England tried hard for the equalizer but it never happened. Instead, Fekete finished the game with the Magyar fifth goal in the last minute.

Goals: 0-1: Gould, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Evans, min. 5 (1); 1-2: Badalik, min. 7 (2); 1-3: Black, min. 6 (2); 2-3: Ughy, min. 4 (2); 3-3: Simonyi, min. 2 (2); 4-3: Badalik, min. 11 (3); 5-3: Fekete, min. 0 (3).

Italy reaffirms candidacy

The Azzurri carried out their performance today in the same spectacular vein than they displayed yesterday, and Italy has got rid of Spain in their race to the European throne, securing a place in this EBSL Superfinal decisive match. Not even Amarelle’s return was enough for the Spaniards, who were always behind the Italian, although they managed up to four equalizers. But not the fifth.

Esposito’s Italia hit first, yet in the first minute of the game, and a stroke exchange began, leaving the scoreboard leveled at the end of the second quarter. The third twelve minutes saw Italy get a two goals advantage, making things really difficult for La Roja. Spain, however, achieved to balance the score again, directed by magician Amarelle, back to the sand after more than a month in the dry patch due to a muscular injury.

Corosiniti put Italy ahead just seconds afterwards, but Cristian sent a volley in after a cross by Nico for the 5-5 when there were only seconds for the final horn. But state-of-grace Italy had more than enough time to snatch the winner in that very last stage, thanks to an opportunism move by Palmacci.

Goals: 0-1: Leghissa, min. 10 (1); 1-1, Javi T. min. 4 (1); 1-2: Corosiniti, min. 7 (2); 2-2: Cristian T., min. 3(2); 2-3: Carotenuto, min. 10 (3); 2-4: Palmacci, min. 8 (3); 3-4: Juanma, min. 8 (3); 4-4: Amarelle, min. 3 (3); 4-5: Corosiniti, min. 2 (3); 5-5: Cristian, min. 1 (3); 5-6: Palmacci, min. 0 (3).

Portugal does not fail in front of own crowd

Portugal will go till the end in their objective: Lifting the Cup once again on their own sand. This afternoon, Ze Miguel’s lads have done the first step towards that end with an uncontestable victory over Romania (6-1). Alan emerged as the finest of Portuguese, with a hat trick that almost finished the game.

Portugal have passed the test with authority. They are at home, and they want this EBSL Superfinal Cup to stay. First, because they are great champions, and second, because they want to forget the bitter taste of Mundialito’s defeat to Brazil a couple of weeks ago. They feel they are in debt with their crowd, that have come again today to back and cheer the team up.

Yet from the very beginning, the Iberians got in command. Alan and Bruno Novo raised the 2-0 on the score by mid first period, making things safer. Maci tried to start the Romanian pursuit, but Alan, completing his particular hat trick, and Bruno Novo finished all their expectations. In the last minutes of the match, Belchior closed the half a dozen for his team, who will have their real acid test tomorrow against cup holders, Russia. The winner of this exciting match will face Italy in the Superfinal.

Goals: 1-0: Alan, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Bruno Novo, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Maci, min. 8 (2); 3-1: Alan, min. 7 (2); 4-1: Alan, min. 6 (2); 5-1: Bruno Novo, min. 0 (2); 6-1: Belchior, min. 2 (3)

Match Results

Date                       Match    Time (local)          Matches

Thu 26.08.10         1            13:15                     ISRAEL  3-3 (2-3)  TURKEY

                               2            14:30                     FRANCE  10-4  ENGLAND

                               3            15:45                     RUSSIA  6-4  ROMANIA

                               4            17:15                     SWITZERLAND  6-8  ITALY

Fri 27.08.10           5            13:15                     AZERBAIJAN  4-5  TURKEY

                               6            14:30                     HUNGARY  5-3  ENGLAND

                               7            15:45                     SPAIN  5-6  ITALY

                               8            17:15                     PORTUGAL  6-1  ROMANIA

Matches for tomorrow

Sat 28.08.10          9            13:15                     ISRAEL vs. AZERBAIJAN

                               10          14:30                     FRANCE vs. HUNGARY

                               11          15:45                     SWITZERLAND vs. SPAIN

                               12          17:00                     RUSSIA vs. PORTUGAL

Group standings

Promotion Final

Group A

                                   P         G.D.

FRANCE                  3          +6

HUNGARY               3          +2

ENGLAND                0          -8

Group B

                                   P         G.D.

TURKEY                   5          +1

ISRAEL                     0          0

ENGLAND                0          -1

Superfinal

Group A

                                   P         G.D.

PORTUGAL             3          +4

RUSSIA                    3          +2

ROMANIA                 0          -6

Group B

                                   P         G.D.

ITALY                         6          +3

SPAIN                       0          -1

SWITZERLAND       0          -2