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MY BEACH SOCCER 
The defending European champions squeezed past Germany to clinch three early points
Emiliano del Duca’s side fought hard to pick up an initial victory against Germany in their title-defending campaign on home soil.
Elsewhere on the first day of the Euro Beach Soccer League in Catania, Belarus handed France a decisive victory thanks to a Samsonov double, while in Division B there were tight wins for Kazakhstan and Estonia.
Maci also netted a hat-trick as Romania initiated Finland into the Euro Beach Soccer League, while Czech Republic and Hungary also took three points to go joint top of their groups.
Germany 4-5 Italy
Two Italian coaches met on the sand today as the 2018 Euro Beach Soccer League champs took on Germany, who just managed to scrape another season in Division A last year.
Despite playing the continental champions on their own turf, Die Mannschaft drew first blood, as Korner rattled in a sublime overhead. Not long after Ramacciotti burst into the box amongst confusion over a potential foul on Zurlo, to volley in a leveler.
Palmacci nudged the Azzurri in front before the first break, and then just after the restart, Simone Marinai smashed in a stunning bicycle kick for three.
But Matteo Marrucci’s Germans were not out of it yet, as Weirauch found the net and then Biermann scored a ridiculous goal to draw Germany momentarily level, until Gabriele Gori pounded in number four and then five for Italy.
There was just one more goal in the final period, as Biermann secured his brace with a sweet volley, but it wasn’t enough to topple the hosts. Del Duca’s men took the three points after a nervy 4-5 win.
Goals: 1-0: Korner, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Ramacciotti , min. 6 (1); 1-2: Palmacci , min. 0 (1); 1-3: Marinai, min. 10 (2); 2-3: Weirauch, min. 6 (2); 3-3: Biermann, min. 5 (2); 3-4: Gori, min. 5 (2); 3-5: Gori, min. 5 (2); 4-5: Biermann, min. 3 (3);
Belarus 4-1 France
The scoring was opened involuntarily by the French number five, Fayos, who blocked the Makarevich‘s long shot to see the deflection loop over the stranded keeper.
But Samsonov, a solider by trade, rifled an equalizer right into the bottom corner, and 1-1 is how the score remained until the final seconds of the period, where Piatrouski and Chaikouski both hit long-range efforts to grab a 3-1 lead at the break.
Samsonov converted a penalty after the restart, extending the lead to 4-1. France asked questions of the Belarus defense but it was Alvarado’s men in red that looked the more likely to get another.
With a three-goal lead going into this final 12 minutes, Belarus slowed the pace and controlled the game. They nearly paid for it when Makarevich was called in to make a desperate triple save but as the whistle went, they breathed a sigh of relief with the points in the bag.
Goals: 0-1: Fayos, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Samsonov, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Piatrouski, min. 2 (1); 3-1: Chaikouski, min. 0 (1); 4-1: Samsonov, min. 0 (1);
Finland 4-7 Romania
Finland’s initiation into the world of beach soccer came swiftly as Ravoiu picked his spot and fired a low opener home after just seconds of the game being played.
However, the new-comers did well to respond midway through the first period, when Risto netted his country’s first ever goal in an official beach soccer competition. Romanian captain Maci brought the Finns back to Earth when he fired an unstoppable shot from the restart, but the match was tight.
Romania had made it all the way to the Promotion Final against Division A side Germany last season, and could have been forgiven for expecting to brush aside the inexperienced Finnish. Keeper Neag scored a belter to make it 1-3 but moments later made a mistake to allow Dementiev to reduce the gap to one before the break.
In the second period however the seasoned Romanian squad, lead by the prolific captain, bashed in four goals to suddenly widen the gap to 2-7.
Autio scored number three and then four for his team in the final period, but they were well beaten and Daniel Petcu’s men took the win.
Goals: 0-1: Ravoiu, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Risto, min. 7 (1); 1-2: Maci, min. 7 (1); 1-3: Neag, min. 0 (1); 2-3: Dementiev, min. 0 (1); 2-4: Ciocanel, min. 9 (2); 2-5: Maci, min. 6 (2); 2-6: Maci, min. 6 (2); 2-7: Croitoru, min. 3 (2); 3-7: Autio, min. 6 (3); 4-7: Autio, min. 2 (3);
Netherlands 5-6 Kazakhstan
Keeper Chornyy got the match underway immediately with a long-range strike with just seconds gone. Another hit from Yeraly, this time a brilliant close-range overhead, doubled the lead at the midway point of the period.
Seconds later Perevyortov rifled in number three and the Dutch were flagging. Tim Van Gelder was on target in the closing minutes but his goal was cancelled out by a cute finish from Yeraly.
Van Der Bent struck to reduce the deficit to two early in the second period. Then Muralinov rose high in the box to put away an incredible volleyed scissor-kick but seconds later Kampman caught the straying Chornyy in possession to slot into an open net to make it 3-5.
Demeshko found the net in the dying seconds before the next break, but in the final period Van Der Bent and Kampman each powered home a sublime bicycle kick to take the score to 5-6.
Desperate last-minute attempts to find a leveler didn’t come off for Miloud Weijers’ men, who will be disappointed not to have at least forced extra time in such a riveting match.
Goals: 0-1: Chornyy, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Yeraly, min. 6 (1); 0-3: Perevyortov, min. 6 (1); 1-3: Van Gelder, min. 1 (1); 1-4: Yeraly, min. 1 (1); 2-4: Van Der Bent, min. 9 (2); 2-5: Muralinov, min. 5 (2); 3-5: Kampman, min. 5 (2); 3-6: Demeshko, min. 0 (2); 4-6: Van Der Bent, min. 8 (3); 5-6: Kampman, min. 3 (3);
Lithuania 3-5 Hungary
These two strong Division B sides both had hopes of making the Promotion Final in Figueira da Foz, but it was Hungary who struck first.
Szentes-Biro found space in the middle of the pitch to drive a low shot which bobbled over the keeper who had already committed to the dive. It was early though, and Lithuanian heads didn’t drop.
They kept out the Hungarians for the rest of the period but in the second, Szasz capitalized on confusion in the back like to slot in number two.
New boy Wirth made it three and Hungary were well in their stride now, looking dangerous on every attack. However, Lithuania suddenly turned the game around, albeit thanks to a touch of fortune, as Meskinis dove to head home a saved shot and moments later Turos looped a back-pass into his own net.
Bartha found the net to make it four then Szasz powered home his second of the day but just a minute later Meskinis also completed his brace. But the comeback never came, and Mark Ughy’s men go level on points with Estonia in Group 3.
Goals: 0-1: Szentes-Biro, min. 6 (1); 0-2: Szasz, min. 9 (2); 0-3: Wirth, min. 5 (2); 1-3: Meskinis, min. 2 (2); 2-3: Turos (OG), min. 2 (2); 2-4: Bartha, min. 8 (3); 2-5: Szasz, min. 7 (3); 3-5: Meskinis, min. 6 (3);
England 1-3 Czech Republic
England enjoyed a decent run in the 2018 Euro Beach Soccer League, but this year they were looking to go one step further and push for Division A.
However, Czech Republic had similar ambitions and the game started as one of intense stalemate where neither side could break through the defensive lines of the other.
When the opening goal finally did come, it was an English defensive error which was pounced on by Hurab who poked the Czechs ahead at the match’s midway point.
The Lions struck back though, as the big defender Lawson muscled off his rival to power in an equalizer. But moments later Czech Republic were back in front when Hurab rose high to head in his second.
As the final period began, the Czech number 17 completed his hat-trick, and England were trailing by two for the first time in the match.
The Three Lions rattled the bar on a few occasions but they eventually ran out of time and the hard-earned three points went to the Czech Republic.
Goals: 0-1: Hurab, min. 6 (2); 1-1: Lawson, min. 3 (2); 1-2: Hurab, min. 3 (2); 1-3: Hurab, min. 10 (3);
Moldova 5-6 Estonia
The match got underway with both sides looking to open their 2019 Euro Beach Soccer League account with a win. The score remained unchanged until, in the last four minutes, Estonia flew into action to grab three quick-fire goals, courtesy of Munskind, keeper Lukk and then Juha.
The bewildered Moldova were on the backfoot going into the second period but they appeared to wake up and burst back onto the pitch the better of the two sides. Ignat buried an opener for Arlet Vasilii’s men almost immediately and before the second break Telic had another.
The third period began at 2-3 but a goal at either end within the first minute kept the difference between the sides the same.
The match continued in this fashion right until the last second, as Estonia built an advantage only to see it pinned back by Schiopu, who bagged a final-period hat-trick with three superb strikes.
But the Estonians couldn’t be caught and the final whistle went with the scores at 5-6. Three precious points registered for Estonia, while Moldova go again tomorrow against Lithuania.
Goals: 0-1: Munskind, min. 4 (1); 0-2: Lukk, min. 2 (1); 0-3: Juha, min. 1 (1); 1-3: Ignat, min. 10 (2); 2-3: Telic, min. 8 (2); 3-3: Schiopu, min. 11 (3); 3-4: Munskind, min. 11 (3); 3-5: Lepik, min. 6 (3); 4-5: Schiopu, min. 5 (3); 4-6: Palm, min. 0 (3); 5-6: Schiopu, min. 0 (3);
Stay up to date of the fixtures, results and standings of the Euro Beach Soccer League Catania 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
