Israel gets the second place in Group B (Promotion Final)
After Turkey achieved yesterday the frst place that gives acces to the promotional final in Group B, Israel and Azerbaijan contested today to earn the chance to fight for the final third place in the European Beach Soccer League. Finally, the Israeli were the ones to gain this opportunity, after their 3-1 victory to Azerbaijan in a really leveled game.
Both teams displayed a hard fight on the beach soccer stadium in Lisbon, what left the score untouched until the end of the second period. It was Yatim to put Israel in advance thanks to a great combination move with captain Iloz. Badash would put them further in the third period, and the match took a real Israeli colour. A great goal by Huseynov restored Azeri’s expectations, but Iloz ended them again with a superb attempt after the goal’s kick off.
Israel, then, will have the chance to fight for the Division B third final place, whereas Azerbaijan, who have led a remarkable season, will try to keep the fifth place in the 2010 EBSL table.
Goals: 1-0: Yatim, min. 2 (2); 2-0: Badash, min. 4 (3); 2-1: Huseynov, min. 3 (3); 3-1: Iloz, min. 3 (3)
France gets into the Promotion Final
Les Bleus will have the chance to defend their Top-Flight role in the EBSL Promotion Final that is taking place in Lisbon Tomorrow. In a really exciting match, The French beat Hungary to confirm their first place in Group A. Although the final score was 7-2, the match was far more leveled than what the numerical difference may point. Only a high-pace last period merited France such an inflated victory.
Cantona’s side jumped onto the sand in the same concentration and mentality that they displayed yesterday. They know they cannot commit a single mistake if they want o keep their place in the privileged division, and this is exactly what they project. Basquaise brought the first proof, when putting the French ahead in the first minutes of the first period, which they ended 1-0 up. Too short a distance it was, as Fekete proved in the first seconds of the second time, raising the equalizer with a great goal.
Samoun made the following step for Les Bleus only a minute afterwards but Fekete was not to let their opponents fly and leveled the score for the second time. The draw seemed to be destined to remain, at least, until the beginning of the third period, but, with the whistle ready to blow, François achieved the 3-2 for his side. The desperate attempt by the Magyar to book the precious tickets was punished with four new French hits, that set even clearer that France is to contest Turkey to keep their Division A place.
Goals: 1-0: Basquasie, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Fekete, min. 11 (2); 2-1: Samoun, min. 10 (2); 2-2: Fekete, min. 4 (2); 3-2: François, min. 0 (2); 4-2: Basquaise, min. 7 (3); 5-2: Pagis, min. 2 (3); 6-2: Mendy, min. 1 (3); 7-2: Samoun, min. 1 (3).
Switzerland will fight for the bronze
Switzerland has beaten Spain to keet the second place in Superfinal Division A, and they will fight tomorrow for the third place in the European Top-flight division this season. Although Spain leveled the first Swiss advantage, Schirinzi’s team was superior all over the match, and they managed their advantage unbroken to keep the points.
The Alpine captain, Leu, put his squad ahead in the third minute of the game, and it was not until the beginning of the second period that Amarelle could raise the 1-1. Little afterwards, though, bomber Stankovic restored the Swiss advantage with the first of his doublet today and Spacca increased the gap to make Switzerland reach the last break two goals up.
Spaniards found it hard to react, and although Javi Torres, first, and Juanma, afterwards, began cutting that distance the Alpine answered every Spanish hit, to keep them far on the scoreboard. With the time almost finished, Spacca made the Spanish wound a little deeper with his second goal today and finished a match that gives his country the chance to fight for the bronze medal.
Goals: 1-0: Leu, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Amarelle, min. 11 (2); Stankovic, min. 9 (2); 3-1: Spacca, min. 5 (2); 3-2: Javi Torres, min. 8 (3); 4-2: Samuel, min. 6 (3); 4-3: Juanma, min. 5 (3); 5-3: Stankovic, min. 3 (3); 6-3: Spacca, min. 0 (3)
Highly talented Portugal makes way to Superfinal
Hosts Portugal have earned a place in the Superfinal after an amazing talent display against current EBSL Champions Russia. The clash between these two beach soccer monsters has become an exceptional spectacle with all the best of this sport. Alien Madjer, with a brilliant hat trick, was the main protagonist of a showdown that Lisbon spectators will last to forget.
As expected, the battle between two of the strongest teams in the globe was absolutely leveled. The Portuguese talent and the Russian physical strength and efficiency faced in a match that would perfectly suit any big tournament final. So, the score remained untouched until the second period, when Makarov put the Russian soldiers ahead, something the Lusitanian team and fans feared much. But Portuguese star Madjer soon ended the suffering with one of his left-foot lashes strait into the Russian goalmouth.
However, that was not enough for the Iberian magician. Two minutes later, a brilliant move of the Portugal’s number seven ended again in Bukhlitskiy’s net, completing the comeback for host side. Belchior extended the advantage to boost local expectations in front of a devoted crowd. But the soviet troops did not desperate in front of the Portuguese sweet moment, and Gorchinskiy brought nervousness back again with the Russian second goal.
That was the moment for Madjer’s bazooka again. Conceding a free kick to the talented forward past half line is almost conceding a goal, as he himself proved in the second minute of the third period. His missile went again straight to the Russian goalmoth, just as if it was remote controlled, and gave two goals rent again. And this time, there was no possible counteraction by Likhachev’s lads: there was too much magic to fight against.
Goals: 1-0: Makarov, min. 10 (2); 1-1: Madjer, min. 8 (2); 1-2: Madjer, min. 6 (2); 1-3: Belchior, min. 5 (2); 2-3: Gorchinskiy, min. 2 (2); 2-4: Madjer, min. 10 (3)
Match results and schedule
Date Match Time (local) Matches
Thu 26.08.10 1 13:15 ISRAEL 3-3 (2-3) TURKEY
2 14:30 FRANCE 10-4 ENGLAND
3 15:45 RUSSIA 6-4 ROMANIA
4 17:15 SWITZERLAND 6-8 ITALY
Fri 27.08.10 5 13:15 AZERBAIJAN 4-5 TURKEY
6 14:30 HUNGARY 5-3 ENGLAND
7 15:45 SPAIN 5-6 ITALY
8 17:15 PORTUGAL 6-1 ROMANIA
Sat 28.08.10 9 13:15 ISRAEL 3-1 AZERBAIJAN
10 14:30 FRANCE 7-2 HUNGARY
11 15:45 SWITZERLAND 6-3 SPAIN
12 17:00 RUSSIA 4-2 PORTUGAL
Matches for tomorrow
Sun 29.08.10 13 10:00 ENGLAND vs. AZERBAIJAN
Promotion Final 5th & 6th Place Match
14 11:30 ROMANIA vs. SPAIN
Superfinal 5th & 6th Place Match
15 13:00 FRANCE vs. TURKEY
PROMOTION FINAL
16 14:30 HUNGARY vs. ISRAEL
Promotion Final 3rd & 4th Place Match
17 15:45 RUSSIA vs. SWITZERLAND
Superfinal 3rd & 4th Place
18 17:00 PORTUGAL vs. ITALY
SUPERFINAL
Group standings
Promotion Final
Group A
P G.D.
FRANCE 6 +11
HUNGARY 3 -2
ENGLAND 0 -8
Group B
P G.D.
TURKEY 5 +1
ISRAEL 3 +2
AZERBAIJAN 0 -3
Superfinal
Group A
P G.D.
PORTUGAL 6 +7
RUSSIA 3 0
ROMANIA 0 -6
Group B
P G.D.
ITALY 6 +3
SWITZERLAND 3 +2
SPAIN 0 -5
