UAE and Iran will fight for the remaining slot for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 Ravenna Italy
Japan and Oman has being the ones to get to this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 – Asian Qualifier, after bending, respectively, UAE and Iran. So, they have earned the primary prize, getting to the upcoming edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. UAE and Iran, on the other hand, will need to battle tomorrow for the remaining tickets to the sport’s biggest appointment, to be held in Ravenna, next September.
The final’s schedule goes as follows
15.45 – Iran vs. UAE (3rd/4th place)
Followed by Oman vs. Japan
These were the results in today’s semifinals matches:
Japan 2-1 UAE
Iran 2-2 (0-1) Oman
Japan book their tickets to the World Cup
Japanese team exploded in ecstasy after becoming the first team to get to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 Ravenna Italy in this Asian Qualifier. Ruy Ramos beat the tactical battle to compatriot Marcelo Mendes, and a slight difference ended up being absolutely meaningful. UAE, though, will have tomorrow their last chance to get into the global appointment in the 3rd/4th place final, in which they will face Iran.
The moment of the truth was undoubtedly here and both Japan and UAE knew it very well. Precisely acknowledging that, both sides preferred to jump onto the game with a huge respect for their opponent. That brought first minutes of measuring forces, of never uncovering one’s defense under any pretext, of waiting to see which was the first move the other side would take… And obviously, goal chances were not too fluent during the first period. But tension, competitiveness and commitment did were.
Japanese captain Take took the best of advantages from a ball he received giving his back to Abbas’ goal, but with a great reverse and an accurate left-foot shot. Japan would increase their advantage with another of their key finishers, Yamauchi, who sent in a free kick in the third minute of the second period, giving the Arabian goalie no option at all. Ruy Ramos’ side tightened their defensive mechanisms up, and cut all roads to their goal for UAE, who began feeling the pressure of the countdown. Although they got in absolute command of the ball, they were unable to drill the Nippon net, until Karim managed the 2-1 with little more than one minute to go. They kept trying, but there was not time enough for them, and Japan knew how to block any other attempt in that last breaths to secure their party.
Goals: 1-0: Take, min. 12 (1); 2-0: Yamauchi, min. 3 (2); 2-1: Karim, min. 11 (3)
Sweetest penalty shootout gets Oman to Ravenna
Al Musannah Beach Stadium hosted today an historic day for the Omani Sport. The Oman Beach Soccer National team achieved to get into the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, to be held in Ravenna (Italy) next September, in what means the first time ever for the National Sport to get to such a global appointment.
The afternoon was, as expected, packed with emotions that ranged from nervousness to excitement and back to nervousness. But, fortunately for the host lads and their crowd, everything ended in an amazing joy, when Jalal slotted his penalty kick in to classify his team for the final, and, consequently, earn their place in the 2011 World Cup.
Indeed, it was Jalal himself the one to push his side ahead. I was the fifth minute of the first period, and his shot meant the best medicine to heal the anxiety after the uncertainty of what was going to happen. The prize was significant enough, and everyone on the pitch and the stands was with the heart in their throat. Four minutes afterwards, Al Zaabi made things even easier, with the second goal for his side. But, that was not enough to think the match was over. There were two periods to be played yet, and the opponent was Iran, undoubtedly one of the biggest guys in Asia.
Oman managed to keep the advantage in the score during almost the whole second period. But Ahmadzadeh shortened the gap by the end of it, and started the real pursuit for the Persian, and hosts’ worst omens got confirmed when Boulokbashi equalized the score by mid last time. The minutes that followed that second hit were almost unbelievable, with chances at one and and the other, great saves, amazing attempts,… Notwithstanding, the score did not move again neither in that last minutes nor during the extra time, so the second ticket to the World Cup was to be sorted by the penalty shootout. Mesigar was the first to take the responsibility for the Persian, only to find local hero goalkeeper Salim prevent the ball in with an amazing save. Half of the job was done. The rest of it was Jalal’s duty. And the Omani number three took it without trembling, making the Iranian keeper believe the ball was going to the right and sending it to the left to make the dream true.
Goals: 0-1: Jalal, min. 5 (1); 0-2: Al Zaabi, min. 9 (1); 1-2: Ahmadzadeh, min. 10 (2); 2-2: Boulokbashi, min. 5 (3).
Penalty shootout: Mesigar (goalkeeper saves); Jalal, in.
