Spain, Brazil, Russia and Great Britain make the next round with a matchday still to play
All of Europe’s women’s beach soccer representatives at the first World Beach Games Qatar make the semi-finals.
With one matchday still to play, the fourth spot was filled by the freshly-formed Brazilians after they snuck past their Mexican rivals from the penalty spot.
Spain kicked the day’s action off against Cape Verde.
Group A
Spain 10-2 Cape Verde
The African representatives of women’s beach soccer at the World Beach Games were in dire need of a win against the team currently sitting at the top of the World Ranking, Spain.
They began the game on the front foot as Ruth pounded in an opener with seconds gone. However, it took just minutes for Christian Mendez’ ladies to strike back, and a double from Jessica saw them leading at the break.
It looked as if Cape Verde were keeping pace with La Roja but as the game past its midway point, strikes form Sara, Miron and Alba Mellado saw Spain fly into a comfortable lead and Cape Verde heads dropped.
From then on it was one-way traffic, as Carol Glez, Andrea Miron and Alba Mellado joined Jessica in completing a brace and taking La Roja’s final tally to a decisive 10, as they shoot to the top of Group A and make the next round with a game still to play.
Djoyce managed a second goal of consolation in the dying seconds of the game, but Cape Verde now find themselves out of the running for a medal, as Brazil and Spain make the semis.
Goals: 0-1: Ruth, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Jessica, min. 9 (1); 2-1: Jessica, min. 3 (1); 3-1: Sara, min. 5 (2); 4-1: Andrea Miron, min. 3 (2); 5-1: Mellado, min. 1 (2); 6-1: Andrea Miron, min. 8 (3); 7-1: Mellado, min. 8 (3); 8-1: Carol Glez, min. 5 (3); 9-1: C. Fresneda, min. 4 (3); 10-1: Carol Glez, min. 1 (3); 10-2: Djoyce, min. 0 (3);
Brazil 4(4)-(3)4 Mexico
The Brazilian Beach Soccer Women are playing their first official tournament here at the World Beach Games Qatar, while their opponents, Mexico are much more seasoned operators at this level.
That discrepancy in experience might have been a factor as Mexico swiftly set about their game plan in the opening minutes. Two early goals from Luna gave Brazil a difficult task almost from the outset.
Nayara halved the deficit only for a shot from Mexican goalkeeper Paulin to bounce viciously in front of her opposite number deceiving the Brazilian keeper, and restore the Central Americans two-goal lead.
When Sanchez added another at the start of the third quarter, all seemed lost for Brazil who were in high spirits after defeating Cape Verde comfortably in their first game. Seemingly nervous early on, they composed themselves with ten minutes to play to mount a comeback of some merit.
First, Jasna dove to direct a header of some velocity into the back of the net, before a smart brace from Dani, the first of which will no doubt be in the conversation for goal of the tournament later next week, drew the debutants level.
Penalties are a lottery and Mexico have some grounds for disappointment in the result, though Brazil have shown they have the quality to cause problems for others in the tournament, largely reducing Mexico to counterattacks in the second and third periods. An auspicious start for the Canarinha.
Goals: 0-1: Luna, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Luna, min. 9 (1); 1-2: Nayara, min. 2 (1); 1-3: Paulin, min. 6 (2); 1-4; Sanchez, min. 10 (3); 2-4: Jasna, min. 9 (3); 3-4: Dani, min. 8 (3); 4-4: Dani, min. 3 (3)
PSO: 0-0 Gallegos, saved; 0-1 Dani, scored; 1-1 Leyva Moran, scored; 1-1 Villar, saved; 2-1 Perez, scored; 2-2 Barbara, scored; 3-2 Ramos, scored; 3-3 Noele scored; 3-3: Rosario, saved; 3-4: Jasna scored.
Group B
Great Britain 5-2 USA
A good save by Haughton from a Witteman shot was the only action of real significance in the first period after Kempson had put Great Britain in front after a matter of seconds.
Wendy Martin doubled their lead after 4 minutes of the second period only for it then to be halved seconds later by Sunseri Warp. That the prospective USA comeback proved to be a false dawn could be attributed to Great Britain being far the more clinical of the two teams over the three periods.
Martin bagged her second of the match before Kempson did likewise in spectacular fashion. Her driven, left-footed shot from considerable distance arrowed past Lowder in the USA goal and into the top corner to confirm her team’s demonstrable superiority. Haynes nearly inflicted further damage to the Americans, rattling the crossbar with an overhead kick from out near the touchline.
Quigley dented the deficit with a scrappy finish as the USA applied more pressure in the third. A flowing, one-touch USA move, started by the goalkeeper, concluded in a smart save from Haughton in the GB goal. Witteman then tested her again with a sharp drive, before an awkward moment resulted in the ball bobbling along the bar for a USA corner.
Gemma Hillier rounded off the result with seven minutes to play with a clever lob. Taking advantage of Lowder’s advanced positioning after she had ventured from her goal to clear, Hillier struck a first-time lob after receiving a headed pass out to the right. A strike of some style to give Great Britain their second win from two games.
Goals: 1-0: Kempson, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Martin, min. 8 (2); 2-1: Sunseri Warp, min 7 (2); 3-1: Martin, min. 5 (2); Kempson, min. 2 (2); 4-2: Quigley, min. 10 (3); 5-2: Hillier, min. 7 (3);
Russia 5-3 Paraguay
A win today for Russia and Great Britain would send them both through to the semi-finals, and Leonov’s Russians started strongly against the Albirroja.
Cherniakova didn’t need long to hit an opener, a simply unstoppable strike which went in off the upright. This was all that separated the teams at the first break, but Komarova added a second after the restart.
Zaitseva scored number three and it looked as if Russia had the game by the scruff of the neck, but the tide suddenly turned. Goroy was on hand to turn in a close-range finish, and then Mora added a second to reduce the difference to just one goal.
Midway through the final period, Paraguay levelled through Caceres, and Russia were showing cracks at the back.
They held off the momentum of the South Americans until the prolific Cherniakova stepped up for her team, bagging two in quick succession to grab the game from Julio Trinidad’s stubborn Paraguayans.
The European power houses from Group B will fight in the semi-finals on Tuesday, but tomorrow, they scrap for the topspot.
Goals: 1-0: Cherniakova, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Komarova, min. 7 (2); 3-0: Zaitseva, min. 6 (2); 3-1: Goroy, min. 3 (2); 3-2: Mora, min. 2 (2); 3-3: Caceres, min. 5 (3); 4-3: Cherniakova, min. 5 (3); 5-3: Cherniakova, min. 1 (3);
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