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Oranje and Azzurri seal very significant chances after victories over Poland and Belarus as Estonia and Greece win in Division B
Big first period propels The Dutch
After coming in second place in the BSWW Sweden Cup 2013, The Netherlands came home and dominated in their first match in this Euro Beach Soccer League stage they are hosting in The Hague. The Orange struck often and early to keep the Polish side from spoiling the homecoming by a score of 5-3.The first three points of the tournament were deservedly given to Holland. Poland tried to dig themselves out of a big hole, but a sloppy first period proved to be too big of an obstacle.
A very lopsided first period started out with the exchange of beautiful acrobatic shots and The Netherlands scored the first goal off of a scissor kick by Ax, with just over six minutes remaining in the first period. The Poles looked a little hesitant early and played at an unusually slow pace. On a spectacular counterattack, the Dutch scored again in the middle of the period to make the score 2-0. Ax added two more goals, for the hat trick, in the period as he was given too much space and he forced Poland to pay for the lapses in judgment. The period ended with the hosts leading 4-0.
Poland came out in the second period looking a little more comfortable on offense while solidifying their defense at the same time. Great efforts, though, from the Poles were negated by even more amazing saves by The Dutch. The Netherlands tacked on another goal early in the period to go up 5-0. Poland would not be denied all day and their excellent tries paid off near the end of the second period when a near impossible goal that was shot through three Dutch players made its way to the back of the net. The second period ended with The Netherlands leading 5-1.
With a spring in their step, Poland started the third period with a quick goal to make the score 5-2. The second goal made an obvious difference in the body language of the Polish side and it gave them hope for a stirring comeback. The third period was very physical and action filled. Sequences of shots flying off the posts, near misses, and exciting aerial attempts were commonplace in the final period. The Poles played their best beach soccer of the match in the third and littered Van der Geest, the Dutch keeper, with an exuberant amount of shots. Van der Geest would give up one goal near the end of the period but his play in the third helped stopping the comeback attempt.
The big win by the Dutch gives them a huge confidence boost heading into the rest of weekend,as it virtually sees them into the Superfinal. The 5-3 loss does not eliminate Poland from the Superfinal as they are still in a good position, but getting at least three points on Saturday or Sunday would secure their chances.
Goals: 1-0: Ax, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Van Gessel, min. 3 (1); 3-0: Ax, min. 1 (1); 4-0: Ax, min. 1 (1); 5-0: Van Dieren, min. 8 (2); 5-1: Widzicki, min. 2 (2); 5-2: Saganowski, min. 10 (3); 5-3: Baran, min. 1 (3).
Italy clinch very significant win on road to Superfinal
It cannot be said with absolute certainty when considering all the remote possibilities there might be, but the truth is that the Italian victory today gets the Azzurri in a very comfortable position regarding the Euro Beach Soccer Superfinal. Esposito?s side bent Belarus in this opening matchday in the Euro Beach Soccer League The Hague, the fourth stage of the regular phase, and collected three more points to round a 9-units record.
Gori gave the Transalpine a bright beginning of the game, with a superb overhead kick that hit the top right corner to end up at the back of Makarevich?s nets. Ramacciotti, right in the beginning of the second leg would widen the distance, only to see the immediate reaction by the Belarusian, led by Miranovich. Slavutsin would follow with the 2-2, what gave way to a dramatic last period.
In this final stage, Italy benefitted of their wider experience to finally bag three crucial points. Ramacciotti and Gori again would secure the win for Esposito?s side, which can be virtually considered a Superfinal contender. Belarus, in turn, needs some excellent results during the weekend to make their way to Torredembarra.
Goals: 1-0: Gori, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Ramacciotti, min. 11 (2); 2-1: Miranovich, min. 11 (2); 2-2: Slavutsin, min. 7 (2); 3-2: Ramacciotti, min. 7 (3); 4-2: Gori, min. 0 (3);
DIVISION B
Greece wins despite slow start
In the opening of this last Division B stage in the Euro Beach Soccer League defense reigned supreme and Greece took the all important two points. Norway led or was tied most of the match, but they still lost 5-4 after three goals in the last minute that sent the game to overtime.
Excellent opportunities but missed chances defined the opening period, which was extremely scrappy as well. After a number of great looks at the goal, Norway scored first on a free kick to go up 1-0. The majority of the possession was maintained by Norway but Greece used exciting saves and good defense to keep the game close. The Norwegians did the same, but better, to keep the Greeks off of the scoreboard. The period ended with the score 1-0, Norway holding the advantage.
Both squads made sure they continued to push the ball and take shots at goal, but for all their efforts, the score remained the same until the middle of the period, when Greece mishit the ball but luckily for them it went in for a goal to tie the game at 1-1. The goal opened things up for Greece and Norway as both teams scored a combined 4 goals. Play in the second period was less physical and the teams showed more precision and creativity with their shots and passes. Norway, who was losing the momentum, tried to end the period on a high note, scoring to tie the game at 2. But less than a minute later, after an error by the Norse goalkeeper, Greece was awarded a free kick and the Greek captain, Paris, netted the final goal of the period. The period ended with the Greeks up 3-2.
The period began just as exciting as the second period ended with Greece and Norway exchanging well struck shots. The shots did not go in like they did in the second, though. The third period showed how much both sides wanted the three points as frustration with attempts not going in was evident. Physicality picked up again, as in the first period, and both teams were tasked with trying to score on multiple free kicks. The third period ended with a flurry of back-and-forth goals in the last minute. The roller coaster that was the third period ended 4-4 as Norway had Salveson score 4 goals in the game and 2 in the final minute of the match.
The overtime was abundantly exciting and the deciding goal will surely be considered one of the best of the match, if not the entire stage, as Bertsias scored his second goal on an exquisite bicycle kick. More late drama was avoided with a brilliant save by Nikolaou of Greece at the last possible second.
The two points, due to the overtime victory, snagged by Greece, in the 5-4 win, puts them in an excellent position to make the Promotion final. Norway is not out of the running though, as they can still qualify with a strong finish over the weekend.
Goals: 0-1: Salveson, min. 8 (1); 1-1; Bertsias, min. 7 (2); 2-1: Amanatidis, min. 6 (2); 2-2: Salveson, min. 1 (2); 3-2: Paris, min. 1 (2); 3-3; Salveson, min. 1 (3); 3-4; Salveson, min. 1 (3); 4-4: Karakasis, min. 1 (3); 5-4: Bertsias, min. 1 (ET).
Estonia edge Bulgaria to top Division B pool
Estonia got well on the road to this season?s Promotion Final after their victory today against Bulgaria .Two equalizers were not enough for the Bulgarian, and the last two hits by the Estonian finally unbalanced the game for Haavistu?s side. The three points get Estonia on top of the Division B table here in The Hague.
After Greece bagged just two points in the previous game of the day, both Bulgaria and Estonia knew that a victory in regular time would mean the eventual leadership in a terribly balance group. Aniko would get the latter ahead, with the game opener midway first period, and it took Bulgaria quite a while to react, but Hristov found the way to the net for the first equalizer of the game.
Saharov would hit again immediately, though, restoring the Estonian advantage. But hard labour would lead Bulgaria to balance things back once again. That would be the last one, though, as Marmor?s double in the last stage of the game would seal the victory for the Estonians, who get on top of the table and could confirm their Promotion Final berth tomorrow against Norway.
Goals: 0-1 : Aniko, min. 4 (1) ; 1-1 : Hristov, min. 7 (2); 1-2: Saharov, min. 6 (2); 2-2: Filipov, min. 9 (3); 2-3: Marmor, min. 3 (3); 2-4: Marmor, min. 0 (3)
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE THE HAGUE 2013
Results today:
Friday, 19th of July, 2013
14:15 ? Netherlands 5-3 Poland (Division A)
15:30 ? Greece 5-4 (et) Norway (Division B)
16:45 ? Bulgaria 2-4 Estonia (Division B)
18:00 ? Italy 4-2 Belarus (Division A)
Matches for tomorrow:
Saturday, 20th of July, 2013
10:00 ? Greece vs Bulgaria (Division B)
11:15 ? Estonia vs Norway (Division B)
12:30 ? Italy vs Poland (Division A)
