Ukrainian and Russian Champions beat Grasshoppers and Besiktas in semifinals. Terracina and Grembach Lodz target 5th
Griffin (UKR) upset Grasshopper (SUI) to secure place in final (4-5)
Griffin became the first finalists of the Euro Winners Cup after edging Grasshoppers Club Zurich in a thrilling semifinal. Despite fighting against a 0-4 advantage, the Swiss club was close to equalize the game, but his mighty reaction fell one goal short.
The two sides knew each other very well. Having already faced in the group stage, the weapons and weaknesses of their contenders were not unknown. And precisely because of that, this semifinal was terribly risky. Griffin seemed to have got to the pitch in a much deeper concentration, knowing exactly what to do to cause Grasshoppers real harm. And they did, as the first half of the game fell absolutely under their control, with a 0-4 run that got things really uphill for the Alpines.
But that did not mean the match was over. Stankovic pulled the first hit back for Grasshopper, and that push began the Swiss reaction. Hoppler and Amarelle made it 3-4 right afterwards, getting the score really tight. Eremeev, with his third hit today brought Griffin some calm, but Nico?s effort got the Swiss back on the fight. Unfortunately for them, though, their struggle got no further dividends, and the ukranian champions will take on Lokomotiv Moscow in the final tomorrow (18:30h) to see who the best club in Europe is?
Goals: 0-1: Eremeev, min. 10 (1); 0-2: A. Borsuk, min. 6 (1); 0-3: Eremeev, min. 3 (1); 0-4: Mahda, min. 8 (2); 1-4: Stankovic, min. 4 (2); 2-4: Hoppler, min. 9 (3); 3-4: Amarelle, min. 8 (3); 3-5: Eremeev, min. 5 (3); 4-5: Nico, min. 4 (3);
Penalty kick shootout sends Lokomotiv (RUS) to the final
Lokomotiv will have the chance to round a dream season in the final of the Euro Winners Cup. After winning the Russian League and the Mundialito de Clubes last 2012, Leonov?s side will now take on Griffin for the continental throne, too.
Besiktas came to the semifinals to fight, though, and regardless of Makarov?s opener, they made things really tough for the Muscovite, as Bariç quick equalizer proved. A stunning missile by Leo Koswal and an amazing volley by Bariç swept the Istanbul side 1-3 ahead. But that, needless to say, did not mean the go through was already in their hands. There was much time to be played, yet, and Lokomotiv has many ways to crush any team?s resistance?
The Muscovite turned the score around after serious struggling, but along came Bariç one more time to keep the Black Eagles in the fight. 4-4, and still a whole period to go.
Any hit at either end could be decisive, and both teams knew that very well. They took extra care in not letting any danger ball surround their box, and time ran out with the scored tied. It did not move in the extra time either, so both sides were faced to the penalty shootout lottery. From the 9-distance, ?Loko? players proved more accurate, with Madjer, Belchior and Shishin sending their attempts in, something Bruno Torres did not manage to do, thus seeing the dream of taking Besiktas to the final of this Euro Winners Cup crumble?
Goals: 0-1: Makarov, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Bariç, min. 8 (1); 1-2: Leo, min.4 (1); 1-3: Bariç, min. 3 (1); 2-3: Madjer, min. 0 (1); 3-3: Belchior, min 9 (2); 3-4: Makarov, min. 10 (3); 4-4: Bariç, min. 10 (3);
Penalty kick shootout: Madjer, in; Onur, in; Belchior, in; Ayhan, in; Shishin, in; Bruno Torres, Bukhlitskiy saves;
Grembach (POL) target 5th place after edging Goldwin Pluss (HUN)
Polish champions Grembach Lodz could get into the fight for the fifth place after beating their Hungarian homologues in the game this afternoon. After their narrow defeat in the quarterfinals, both Goldwin and Grembach wanted to aim for the highest possible record, something only the latter will be entitled to do. After the 2-1 for the Magyar achieved by Ughy, the Polish champions turned the score around to get and advantage they would never lose.
Goals: 0-1: Golanski, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Ughy, min. 10 (1); 2-1: Ughy, min. 5 (1); 2-2: Wydmuszek, min. 0 (1); 2-3: Saganowski, min. 11 (2); 2-4: Ziober, min. 5 (3); 2-5: Baran, min. 1 (2); 3-5: Ughy, min. 8 (3); 4-5: V. Fekete, min. 7 (3); 4-6: Baran, min. 1 (3)
Terracina (ITA) to fight for 5th, too
The only remaining Italian team will struggle for the fifth place in this Euro Winners Cup, thanks to a convincing victory over Bate Borisov. A hat-trick by Llorenç was key for Del Duca?s side, who after seeing their opponents hit first, reacted in time to get in command of the game. The Belarusia coul pull one back to make it 2-3 and bring on some thrilling last minutes, but Llorenç?s third just before the horn finally sealed the win for ASD Terracina.
Goals: 1-0: Pernai, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Llorenç, min. 3 (1); 1-2: Llorenç, min. 2 (2); 1-3: M. Oleilla, min. 5 (2); 2-3: Bogaichuk, min. (3); 2-4: Llorenç, min. 0 (3)
EURO WINNERS CUP 2013
San Benedetto del Tronto (ITA) ? 15th to 19th of May
Sat 18/05/13
QUARTEFINALS
09.00 (pitch 1) ? Grasshopper Club Zurich 10-9 Goldwin Pluss
10.15 (pitch 1) ? Grembach Lodz 4-5 Griffin
11.30 (pitch 1) ? Besiktas JK 4(1)-4(0) Bate Borisov
12.45 (pitch 1) ? Lokomotiv Moscow 6-0 ASD Terracina
SEMIFINALS & PLAY-OFF FOR THE 5th PLACE
17.45 (pitch 1) ? Semifinals ? Grasshopper Club Zurich 4-5 Griffin
17.45 (pitch 2) ? playoff for the 5th place ? Goldwin Pluss 4-6 Grembach Lodz
19.00 (pitch 1) ? Semifinals – Besiktas JK 4(2)-4(3) Lokomotiv Moscow
19.00 (pitch 2) ? playoff for the 5th place ? Bate Borisov 2-4 ASD Terracina
Matches for tomorrow:
Sun 19/05/13
14.45 (pitch 1) – Goldwin Pluss vs Bate Borisov – match for the 7th place
16.00 (pitch 1) ? Grembach Lodz ? ASD Terracina – match for the 5th place
17.15 (pitch 1) ? Grasshopper vs Besiktas JK – match for the 3rd place
18.30 (pitch 1) ? Griffin vs Lokomotiv Moscow – FINAL
