Eagles roll over Argentina to top table as Lebanon upset Portugal in a historic game. Tomorrow’s last game to pass sentence
Historic Lebanon bends Portugal
Lebanon achieved a historic win this afternoon in Nigeria, edging Portugal 4-5 in the second matchday of the Copa Lagos 2012, taking place this weekend in Eko Atlantic City. Today?s brilliant performance proved that Moghaddam?s Lebanon is up for top-flight challenges, and they have really good possibilities to do a good job in the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? Asian Qualifier to take place next January. Many would argue that Portugal missed Madjer and Belchior too much today, and who knows, but the truth is that Lebanon did an amusing job today un Lagos. Despite the defeat, Portugal has still everything in his hand to win the Cup, as a +2 victory tomorrow over Nigeria would get them finally on top. Lebanon, in turn, depends on the result in that last game of the tournament to see what their real chances are.
Rather quickly once again, the European goat ahead in the score, with Lucio Carmo sweeping Reis? side ahead in the third minute. Midway through the first leg, Luis Vaz unleashed a powerful blaze that stormed past Choker for the 2-0, and seemed to get things definitely under control? But the Lebanese hero finally woke up in the second leg of match, and fired two terrific low shots home that got things leveled by mid second period.
The Lebanese inspiration went on during the last period, and Hawali, first, and Fattal, afterwards completed a terrific comeback that left Portugal helpless, unable to counteract an amazingly grown up team? Portugal tried and tried, and finally got reward, with Bruno Torres sending the 3-4 in, and Marinho equalizing in the last minute of the game? Amazingly enough, though, Lebanon untied the score again immediately, to secure a historical victory that will remain for long in the players and fans memories? They had beaten the third best team in the world? What?s next for them?
Goals : 1-0 : Lucio, min. 8 (1) ; 2-0 : Luis Vaz, min. 5 (1) ; 2-1 : Fattal, min. 5 (2); 2-2: Fattal, min. 4 (2); 2-3 : Halawi, min. 11 (3) ; 2-4 : Fattal, min. 9 (3); 3-4: Bruno Torres, min, 6 (3); 4-4: Marinho, min. 0 (3); 4-5: Mokdad, min. 0 (3)
Nigerian missiles knock Argentina down
Nigeria only see reediting the title, and they will save no effort to it. If there was any kind of room for doubt about it before yesterday, that was absolutely brushed away after the terrific performance by the hosts in their second fixture in this edition of the Copa Lagos 2012. Adamu?s side rolled over Argentina, giving the CONMEBOL representatives no chance at all, right from the very first minute, and uplift themselves to the highest place in the table, after Portugal?s defeat to Lebanon today.
Nigeria could not have a sweeter beginning to the game, as Tale, in the very first move after kick off, pushed the Sand Eagles ahead. Before first horn, talented Abu pushed the distance wider, with the 2-0 after a great individual action.
The Argentinean resistance was definitely tore apart in the second leg, in which three missiles by Olawale, Ewofheria and Okemmiri finished almost all Albiceleste chances. Despite their breed got them to keep fighting, things were too much on Nigerian hands to find any dramatic turnaround. The Eagles? nets remained untouched for the remaining match, what gives them a really valuable +6 goal average to top the table, at the time leaves the South American with no possibility at all to the Cup. Only tomorrow?s Nigeria-Portugal can decide whose hands this Copa Lagos flies to.
Goals: 1-0: Tale, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Abu, min. 0 (1); 3-0: Olawale, min. 8 (2); 4-0: Ewofheria, min. 7 (2); 5-0: Okemmiri, min. 0 (2);
COPA LAGOS BEACH SOCCER 2012
Results:
Friday, December 14th
Portugal 4-0 Argentina
Lebanon 6?7 Nigeria
Sat 15.12.12
15:00 – Portugal 4-5 Lebanon
16:15 – Nigeria 5-0 Argentina
Standings
1-Nigeria, 6 points (+6)
2-Lebanon, 3 points (0)
3-Portugal, 3 points (+3)
4-Argentina, 0 points (-9)
Matches for tomorrow :
Sun 16.12.12
14:00 – Argentina vs. Lebanon
16:30 – Nigeria vs. Portugal
