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Madrid bag late winner and Playas de San Javier down debutants to reach all-Spanish final
The semi-finals have named their champions, and tomorrow the final will be fought on the Portuguese coast between two Spanish sides.
The Euro Winners Cup already promised a new champion, but the semi-finals have now specified further the nationality of the club that will lift the trophy.
Lokrians Beach Club have already guaranteed their best ever finish in the European show down, and after semi-final disappointment, the Italian side will content for third place against Stade de Reims.
The final standing took one step closer to being decided as the teams who had already exited the competition tussled for a best-possible finish.
Click here for all of today’s matches and highlights.
SEMI-FINALS
Playas De San Javier Vs Stade De Reims
Yet to taste defeat in Nazaré this year, AIS Playas de San Javier now had to defeat the competition newcomers, Stade de Reims.
But the French came into this tie after eliminating Lady Grembach, and were full of confidence, and took the lead early on through, who else, their star number nine Melissa Gomes.
But Sara Gonzalez equalized and that was the last the French side saw of the lead, as Sara Kempson, Andrea Miron and Carol Glez netted brilliant gaosl to take the final score to 4-1.
With what ended up as a comfortable win in the bag, the Playas were now just one win away from lifting the Euro Winners Cup for the first time, but a strong Madrid side with the same ambition stood in their way.
Madrid CFF Vs Lokrians Beach Club
The semi-final match-up between Madrid CFF and Lokrians Beach Club promised to be a tight match-up, as the prospect of a first ever title fueled a passionate tie.
Madrid drew first blood when Alba Mellado struck midway through the first period. This was all that separated the sides at the break, but directly from the restart, Mellado drove in a second.
The Italians looked in danger of being left behind but then, there was a sudden change of direction and Lokrians turned the match around, netting three in the late-second and early-third period to grab the lead. However, Madrid stopped the momentum and equalised.
They then snatched the winner with just over a minute to go, when Estela drove in a low shot from distance and, absorbing the final Italian attacks, secured a place in Sunday’s final and AIS Playas de San Javier.
5th-place play-offs
Lady Grembach, enhanced by the Brazilian Adriele who was one of 2018’s three best players, had been tipped by many to go far in the Euro Winners Cup. However, after being knocked out by Stade de Reims, their next opponents were Djurgardens IF in the play-offs for fifth place.
The opening period was evenly matched and saw no goals but as the second neared the midway point, the Swedish side suddenly seized control of the game, going into the third and final period with a three-goal advantage.
Sofie Ek bagged two in the last period as they overwhelmed the disheartened Polish side to take the final score to 6-0.
Roses Platja claimed the first goal in their match against Terracina Femminile after a matter of seconds, but the English number 11 Jade Widdowson scored a minute later to level the tie up for Terracina.
Roses took the lead again, but once more the Italians were there to cancel the goal out. The match carried on like this all the way through extra time where, with the score at 6-6, and penalties were required to separate them. It was the Catalans who slipped up first, losing the shootout six to five.
9th-place play-offs
WFC Zvedza, after having hopes of title-retention dashed, turned their sites on finishing the tournament in ninth place.
They took the lead against Terrassa in the first 12 minutes, with a double from Zaitzeva. They extended the lead to three, but in the final period the Spaniards threatened to turn the game around with three late goals.
However, the experienced Russians held on to a slender lead to see the game out, sealing a 5-4 win.
Also vying for ninth place were Higicontrol Melilla from Spain, and their English number eight, Molly Clark scored a hat-trick to pull ahead of their rivals, ACD O Sotao.
The hosts opened their account in the first period, but the Spaniards built up a comfortable lead, with Lorena grabbing two goals, to outclass Sotao and will now vie for the ninth spot against WFC Zvezda in tomorrow’s match.
13th-place play-offs
The 2017 winners of the European title now found themselves in a scrap for 13th place in the 2019 edition.
Havana Shots struggled against a strong Marseille side, who had the lead at the end of the first period. But they turned the match around and the Swiss managed to edge a ten-goal thriller, six goals to four.
Later on, Lady Terracina drew 3-3 with Spanish side CFP Caceres Femenino, and the tie had to be settled from the penalty spot.
Terracina sealed victory after scoring one penalty, while CFP Caceres Femenino didn’t manage to convert.
17th-place play-offs
DTS Ede rounded off their time in Nazaré with a comfortable win over fellow Dutch side Beach Soccer Zeeland, scoring ten to Zeeland’s four and finishing the Euro Winners Cup in 17th place.
Remember that all games will be streamed live at beachsoocer.com/live!
Stay up-to-date on all of the action from the Euro Winners Challenge, Women’s Euro Winners Cup and Euro Winners Cup on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website!
