The Spaniards shocked Artur Music in Friday’s final match while the two previous champions win big to make the final four
Kristall and Braga are on course for a rematch of the 2018 Euro Winners Cup final, should they beat CD FT Marbella and Real Münster on Saturday.
The semi-finals were decided after thrilling bouts in the quarter-finals see yet more teams exit the 2020 Euro Winners Cup.
The most tantalising match of the day saw debutants Marbella down Artur Music on penalties after the Ukrainians enjoyed a Llorenç-inspired comeback.
Meanwhile seemingly routine wins for the two previous champions present at the 2020 Euro Winners Cup, see Braga and Kristall breeze into the semi-finals, while less comfortable victories see Real Munster and Marbella earn places in the Euro Winners Cup final four.
QUARTER-FINALS
CD FT Marbella (ESP) 7(3)-(1)7 Artur Music (UKR)
The experienced Ukrainian side, bolstered by big name recruits such as Llorenç Gomez and Gabriele Gori, were many people’s favourites going into this tie, but the debutant Spaniards started the game in control.
Riduan, Kuman, Alex Jr and Torres each netted in the first period but a Llorenç double cut the deficit in half before the first whistle. Each side scored two more in the next period to keep the difference at just two.
Marbella lead for the majority of the match but a late burst of goals, Gori grabbed two and Llorenç completed his hat-trick in style with a tremendous strike to force extra time, which then went to penalties.
Of all people, it was the Italian Gabriele Gori who painfully put his spot-kick over the bar and when Marbella netted all three, the Spanish couldn’t contain their joy. They will face Kristall in the next round…
SC Braga (POR) 6 – 0 Krylia Sovetov (RUS)
It was business as usual for SC Braga in their semi-final match against Krylia Sovetov, as Be Martins and Pinatado got the ball rolling in the first period. The Russians had their share of chances but were unable to convert them under the pressure of the Braga players, who didn’t give the Krylia attackers a moment’s peace.
Still the Braga attacks came, and although it wasn’t as decisive a victory as the other matches the defending champions had enjoy so far in this edition, they scored twice in each period to finish at a comfortable 6-0.
Andre Lourenço, Jordan Oliveira, Leo Martins and Jordan Santos also netted and Braga will now face Real Münster in Saturday’s semi-final round.
BSC Kristall (RUS) 13 – 3 BSC Molniya (UKR)
Kristall registered their biggest goal haul of the tournament so far with 13 against BSC Molniya from Ukraine. In the second quarter-final of the day, the Brazilian duo, Rodrigo and Mauricinho, were among the goals once more, bagging three each.
Molniya fought hard and managed to break through the Kristall defence on three occasions, seeing Dubovyk and Spaniard Antonio get on the score sheet, as well as an unlucky own goal from Kristall’s Paporotnyi.
The Russians, who finished third in their national league this year, will meet Marbella in the semi-finals.
ACD O Sótão (POR) 2 – 3 Real Münster (GER)
Both the Nazaré club and their Münster opponents had won every one of their games so far, but that run had to come to an end in the first Euro Winners Cup quarter-final match.
Sótão took the lead through Spaniard David Ardil but his countryman Javi Torres managed to equalize just before the first whistle sounded. Torres then snatched the lead for the German club at the end of the second period, and Münster lead by three goals to two going into the final third.
The last period was a furiously fought battle, but both teams were unable to find the net again. As time ticked on Münster became more conservative in their play and managed to hold off the locals until the final whistle, becoming the first team to reach the semi-finals on Saturday.
Remember that you can tomorrow’s semi-finals live on beachsoccer.com.
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