Portugal are the new European Beach Soccer League champions, after they have beaten Italy in the Superfinal held this Sunday in Lisbon. Hosts keep this way the most important continental price, an award they have achieved four times so far. The match, as expected, was absolutely hard-fought, since the Lusitanian were to contest best Italy, who had reached this Superfinal in a great shape, inflicting emphatic defeats to all their opponents.
People packed the stands expecting the game to be exciting, competitive and spectacular, and the showdown let nobody down. Corosiniti broke away from the script and threw a bucket of cold water on the Portuguese fans’ excitement right in the second minute of the game. That was a heavy blow, precisely because being down in the score against such a powerful tea as the Azzurri are is something to be really afraid of.
But, just as they have proved so far, Portugal has the weapons to fear no one. And one of these weapons is Alan. Portugal’s number six brought peace back with the equalizer for his side, and gave way to a new beginning. And this time, the Lusitanian were not to miss the chance. In the seventh minute of the second period, Bruno Novo completed the comeback with his first goal, making the crowd go crazy.
Minutes were passing by, and Portugal began feeling the Cup with their fingertips. But this is not that easy when you face all-time combative Italy. In the seventh minute of the third period, Gori leveled the score again with a new incredible bicycle kick and set things for five final breath-taking minutes. Portugal, though, felt strong. Backed by their devoted supporters, they felt capable of anything, and made their powerful attack their best defensive system. The aim was put on Del Mestre’s goal, rather than Graça’s, and this was the best way not to concede goals.
Portugal kept trying and trying, and Bruno Novo finally found the prize. He pursued a ball till the end, shot once, and pursued the rebound again to achieve the winner for his side: Portugal are the new Kings of Europe!!!
Goals: 0-1: Corosiniti, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Alan, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Bruno Novo, min. 5 (2); Gori, min. 5 (3); 3-2: Bruno Novo, min. 2 (3)
Switzerland suffers the Russian punishment
Russia clinched the third place in this Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal with a new physical display, clearly beating the powerful Swiss side on the Lisboa sand. The clash between these beach soccer top teams proved more unbalanced than it could be expected, mainly because of Russian almost-supernatural efficiency. Their terrific pace disarmed all Switzerland resistances for an emphatic final score.
Shishin and Krasheninnikov gave the Alpine a bit taste of what the match was going to be like, putting Russia 2 goals up in the first period. That was not enough, though, to scare the talented Swiss side, who immediately reacted to balance the score again with two frenetic lashes by bomber Stankovic and Rodrigues. But, the Russian were set to state their dominance without losing a single second, and this is precisely what Shaykov did in the very following second, to raise the 3-2 before the first break.
When Stankovic neutralized again the soviet advantage, it seemed that this could be the moment for Switzerland to handle the game at last to begin displaying their virtuous beach soccer. But it was the Russian soldiers, instead, who began their unstoppable march. First with the second goal by Shishin (who would score two more) in that same second period, and afterwards with a new solid non-compassionate beach soccer flow in the third one that ended all Swiss chances.
Goals: 1-0: Shishin, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Krasheninnikov, min. 4 (1); 2-1: Stankovic, min. 1 (1); 2-2: Rodrigues, min. 1 (1); 3-2: Shaykov, min. 1 (1); 3-3: Stankovic, min. 9 (2); 4-3: Shishin, min. 4 (2); 5-3: Krasheninnikov, min. 11 (3); 6-3: Shishin, min. 10 (3); 7-3: Shishin, min. 4 (3).
Spain does not miss last bullet
The tournament’s most awarded squad did not want to farewell this EBSL Superfinal without getting even with the bad taste in their mouths after being closed the doors of the greatest match of the European season. Spaniards inflicted Romania a severe defeat, displaying a superiority that they had not been putting onto stage lastly.
A first period 0-4 run was already a heavy load for the Carpathian side after Javi T., Pajón, Beiro and Amarelle’s hits. After the first break, Spaniards seemed to be taking some rest for the first minutes of the second half, and Tase took advantage of it to shorten the distance in the score. But Romanian expectations could go no further, since Spaniard’s finest, Amarelle, proved he is getting back to fitness with his second goal.
La Roja’s monologue went on in the last period, and although Romania had a couple of chances due to Spanish misunderstandings, Javi T. again and Nico finished the match, if it was not yet.
Goals: 0-1: Javi T., min. 10 (1); 0-2: Pajón, min. 4 (1); 0-3: Miguel Beiro, min. 2 (1); 0-4: Amarelle, min. 0 (1); 1-4: Tase, min. 8 (2); 1-5: Amarelle, min. 5 (2); 1-6: Javi T., min. 10 (3), 1-7: Nico, min. 0 (3).
Match results and schedule
Date Match Time (local) Matches
Thu 26.08.10 3 15:45 RUSSIA 6-4 ROMANIA
4 17:15 SWITZERLAND 6-8 ITALY
Fri 27.08.10 7 15:45 SPAIN 5-6 ITALY
8 17:15 PORTUGAL 6-1 ROMANIA
Sat 28.08.10 11 15:45 SWITZERLAND 6-3 SPAIN
12 17:00 RUSSIA 4-2 PORTUGAL
Sun 29.08.10 14 11:30 ROMANIA 1-7 SPAIN
Superfinal 5th & 6th Place Match
17 15:45 RUSSIA 7-3 SWITZERLAND
Superfinal 3rd & 4th Place
18 17:00 PORTUGAL 3-2 ITALY
SUPERFINAL
EBSL SUPERFINAL final standings
1-PORTUGAL
2-ITALY
3-RUSSIA
4-SWITZERLAND
5- SPAIN
6- ROMANIA
Individual Awards
MVP: Madjer (POR)
Top Scorer: Stankovic (SUI)
Best Goalkeeper: Bukhlitskiy (RUS)
