Amarelle’s Chinese side won big to make final against Flamengo who beat Levante
In very different semi-final match-ups, the last two teams earned their places in the final of the inaugural World Winners Cup.
Leo Martins bagged four for Meizhou Hakka who defeated Shahin Khazar, while a contrastingly tight contest between CR Flamengo and Levante UD saw the Brazilians come out on top after penalties.
Elsewhere on matchday 6, Italian superstar (and nominee for 2019’s Player of the Year) Gabriele Gori scored no less than eight goals for Boca Gdansk to take his competition tally to 18!
SEMI-FINALS
Flamengo (BRA) 4(3)-(1)4 Levante UD (ESP)
In a much tighter tie than the previous semi-final, Flamengo knocked Levante out of the World Winners Cup in dramatic fashion.
The best player in the world (for a few more weeks, at least) came up against the majority of his Spanish national teammates in the second semi-final in Alanya, and Llorenç put the Brazilian side ahead with just one second of the first period to go.
Chiky had already smashed in Goal of the Tournament contender to get Levante off the mark but Andre Lourenço had equalised.
In the second period Alejandro made it 3-1 but keeper Eliott strayed out of his own penalty area twice to fire past his opposite number Andrade.
In the final period, Llorenç and Chiky each netted one more, and after extra time couldn’t separate these beach soccer titans it was penalties.
The cruel reality of a penalty shootout is that someone has to miss, and after netted two brilliant goals in normal time, that someone was Levante’s Chiky.
Flamengo will now face Meizhou Hakka in the final.
Meizhou Hakka (CHN) 9-1 Shahin Khazar (IRN)
The Chinese side blew away Shahin Khazar as the Portuguese talent proved too much for the Iranians’ defence.
Amarelle’s men took the lead midway through the first period thanks to Be Martins. Next it was the turn of Jordan, who may be named as the best player in the world in a few short weeks, and soon after Leo Martins scored his 13th goal of the tournament, to complete the Portuguese triple.
Meizhou Hakka had a comfortable lead entering the second period, but Leo Martins was far from finished, as he pushed the match further and further out of Iranian reach, netting four in the same match.
Jordan also contributed to the nine-goal tally with a hat-trick, while Chinese international Liu YS scored one.
As a result of their dominant performance in the semi-finals, Meizhou Hakka will face Flamengo from Brazil in the final
PLAY-OFF
Krylia Sovetov (RUS) 4-7 Alanya BS (TUR)
The hosts had issues downing the stubborn Russians but built momentum to net seven on matchday six.
Stankovic blasted the hosts in front but this was all that separated the teams at the first klaxon. He scored again seconds after the restart but Dzhabarov pulled one back for Krylia Sovetov to keep it tight.
A Filipe double and fine Yasin finish put Alanya into a 2-5 lead going into the final period, where both Stankovic and Filipe hit their third to keep hopes of fifth place alive.
BSC Vybor (UKR) 0-3 Golsapoosh Yazd (IRN)
In the race for ninth place, Golsapoosh Yazd netted a goal in each period to accumulate a 0-3 scoreline, while Vybor were unable to find the net.
Hamidreza struck early in the opening period, while captain Mokhtar netted in the second. Vybor pressed as the game drew on, but ultimately ended the match without a goal, while A. Nazem hit one final goal seal the win.
Real Münster (GER) 8-6 Masafi Al Wasat (IRQ)
Real Münster beat Masafi Al Wasat club in extra time when 12 goals after three period were split evenly.
Masafi Al Wasat burst into an early lead, scoring three but the Germans slowly worked their way back to 3-3 by the third period. Three more goals went in at each end to see extra time forced where Tim and Luth scored one each to complete the comeback.
Boca Gdansk (POL) 11-2 BQ All Star Club (THA)
With a ninth-place spot still up for grabs, Boca Gdansk weren’t about to let the chance at another win slip, and one of the top three players of the year, Gabriele Gori, didn’t hold back against his Thai opponents.
The Italian had four by the first break, and by the end of the game he took his tally to an incredible eight, helping the Poles take an 11-2 win over BQ All Star Club.
Atletico Licata (ITA) 1-5 Al-Arabi (KUW)
Atletico Licata remain winless in their stint in Alanya, after the Kuwait side Al-Arabi hit five to win in the play-offs.
Gabriel and Mahdi scored in the first period and the Italians never recovered from falling behind early, as the second period saw the Kuwaitis double the lead. A goal at each end in the final third confirmed yet another defeat for Atletico Licata.
For more information on the World Winners Cup head to the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
