The 2020 finalists defeated San Francisco and Real Münster comfortably in the Euro Winners Cup semi-finals
– Kristall and Braga to meet in 2020 final rematch
– Real Münster contend 3rd for second year running
– GRAP’s Bernardo Lopes moves to top of scoring charts
SEMI-FINALS
The final of the Euro Winners Cup is set: Kristall versus Braga.
It will be the third time these sides have met in the final of the Euro Winners Cup. Each have won one of the previous two and each have three European titles in total, making tomorrow the perfect opportunity to move ahead in the race for domination of continental club beach soccer.
Kristall went up against Real Münster in their semi-final, where they were without Brazilian superstar Rodrigo, who suffered a foot injury the previous day, but five different goal scorers saw the Saint Petersburg club make the final comfortably, resigning their German rivals to a second third-place playoff in as many years.
Münster will face Ramiro Amarelle’s San Francisco, who went ahead through Javi Torres against Braga in the other semi-final, but couldn’t contain the marauding strikers of the three-time champions.
Braga controlled much of the game and took their tally to seven, thanks to doubles from Fabio Costa and Be Martins, but they should have had more. Münster defended stubbornly and netted to late goals to cut the deficit to just three, but ran out of time.
Sunday will see one of the two European superpowers claim an historic fourth title – don’t miss it!
PLAYOFFS
Lokomotiv took on hosts ACD Sótão in the playoffs, enjoying a convincing victory. The Railwaymen netted six, including a double from Russian international Zemskov, to sink the Nazaré side, and they will now face countrymen Krylia in the playoff for fifth tomorrow.
Krylia defeated MFC Spartak by seven goals to four, and a Kryshanov hat-trick for Delta helped them down the two-time finalists Artur Music in the playoff tussles for finishing positions. Delta will meet Falfala, who downed GRAP in their match today, in the tie for ninth place on Sunday.
Grande Motte from France hit seven without reply against a lacklustre Caldes da Rainha to earn a bout for 13th against Nistru (MDA) in their final game in Nazaré, as the Moldovans edged Casa Benfica de Loures in their playoff.
Semi-final Results
BSC Kristall (RUS) 5-2 Real Münster (GER)
CD San Francisco (ESP) 4-7 SC Braga (POR)
Final Day Fixtures
BSC Kristall (RUS) v SC Braga (POR) – FINAL
Real Münster (GER) v CD San Francisco (ESP) – 3rd-place playoff
BSC Lokomotiv (RUS) v Krylia Sovetov (RUS) – 5th-place playoff
For full details on the Euro Winners Cup, including results, standings, stats and fixtures, head to beachsoccer.com.
