There were wins for Demark, England, Spain and Russia on the final day, as hosts face Promotion Final to stay in Division A
Germany’s fate is now sealed, and if they want to stay in Division A next year they will have to battle the teams from Division B who are also looking to join the best in Division A. The ranks include the likes of England, who closed a perfect tournament here in Warnemunde with a win on the final day and will be a tough competitor for that promotion spot.
England and Spain were the only side that finished the weekend without having dropped a point, topping their division groups and showing that they are more than ready to compete for promotion, and the SuperFinal title in a few weeks in Sardinia.
In terms of individual awards, Llorenç secured the trophy for Top Scorer, whilst the MVP went to his Spanish teammate Antonio, who scored four goals over the tournament. The award for the Best Goalkeeper went to Ostrovskii from Team Russia.
The last day in Warnemunde was an eventful one; this is how it unfolded…
Spain v France
Following their earlier victory over hosts Germany, France had a chance to go level with today’s opponents, Spain, with a win today. But Spain were enjoying an unbeaten run and with such a star-studded team the match was always going to be a tough one.
It was the French who took the lead through Victor Angeletti and then a golazo from Leo Grandon put Gerard Sergent’s side two goals to the good and Spain were looking a little stunned.
Alonso’s men soon woke up though, and Antonio pulled one back just before the break. Llorenç then turned a defender and coolly curled a short inside the far post to level up in style.
The early dominance that France had enjoyed seemed to be slipping out of their grasp as the Spanish were persistent in their attacks. Balls bounced frequently off the woodwork to groans and signs of relief from the French fans in the crowd.
Eventually Antonio found a way through the French defence to snatch the lead. At 3-2, the Spanish continued to step up the attacks but the scoreline remained the same until the final period.
As Spain just managed to hang on to the lead until the final whistle, they take all three points and top the Division A group in Warnemunde with three wins out of three.
Goals: 0-1: Angeletti, min. 8 (1); 0-2: Grandon, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Antonio, min. 3 (1); 2-2: Llorenç, min. 10 (2); 3-2: Antonio, min. 4 (2);
Germany v Russia
The hosts final chance at glory on home sand came against the European Champions, Russia. However, Mikhail Likhachev’s side had slipped up against Spain earlier in the tournament, ending their unbeaten run in the league.
The Russians were swift in asserting a dominant position, and a Zemskov goal, his fourth of the competition, handed the Russians an initial lead. Shishin then doubled the advantage two minutes later and the Germans were trailing with a real task on their hands. Paporotnyi went on to add a third before the end of the first period.
There was time though, and Matteo Marrucci’s side managed to stem the flow of goals and the score remained unchanged until in the second period, as they defended solidly and created chances of their own.
But Zemskov wasn’t finished for the day, and he bagged himself a second half way through the final period to make it four to Russia. As much as the Germans battled on it soon became clear that a comeback was impossible against such a slick and clinical Russian side.
The fourth goal was enough to wrap up the victory for Likhachev’s men and Germany ended the weekend without any league points.
Goals: 0-1: Zemskov, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Shishin, min. 8 (1); 0-3: Paporotnyi, min. 0 (1); 0-4: Zemskov, min. 6 (3);
Denmark v Georgia
The final day’s beach soccer action got underway when two teams who were yet to clock up any points in the event in Warnemunde, would battle it out to see who finished in third position in the Division B group.
There was plenty of energy in early attacks by both teams and the goalkeepers were keeping each other on their toes as they fired some shots the whole length of the pitch. These early warning shots weren’t to be ignored…
The first period finished goalless and it wasn’t until the Danish keeper Levin, following the initial friendly fire between the two number ones, smashed in a screamer from distance.
Then Khattab doubled the advantage with a sublime strike which struck both uprights before finding the back of the net. Two minutes later he scored another, taking the score to 3-0 and Georgia were falling behind. With just fifteen seconds of the second period to go, Dorph made it four, leaving Betinho’s Georgians with it all to do in the final 12 minutes.
Pargalava pulled one back, scoring his fourth of the tournament, but time was running out for Georgia if they wanted to get back into this tie. But then he completed his brace with four minutes still to go and suddenly the difference between the teams didn’t seem so great.
Then, a last-minute brace from Tchanturia brought the score back to 5-4, and with seconds to go Georgia rallied for the final attack to force extra time. But the spirited comeback just ran out of time and the Danes claimed their first points in Warnemunde as Georgia ended the competition cruelly on zero points.
Goals: 1-0: Levin, min. 10 (2); 2-0: Khattab, min. 4 (2); 3-0: Khattab, min. 1 (2); 4-0: Dorph, min. 0 (2); 4-1: Pargalava, min. 9 (3); 4-2: Pargalava, min. 9 (3); 5-2: Khattab, min. 3 (3); 5-3: Tchanturia, min. 1 (3); 5-4: Tchanturia, min. 0 (3);
Hungary v England
This matchup between Hungary and England would act as the decider for the Division B group title. Needless to say, this game had all the makings of a tight bout, with neither side having suffered defeat in Warnemunde so far.
Hungary burst in action straight away as they scored to take the lead through Rutai after four minutes. The lead was then doubled by Fekete and after such a prolific campaign England were flagging.
The first period ended at 3-1 but going behind seemed to jerk England into action as they powered back during the second period to put themselves in front.
After each had scored at least once the day before, Younie, O’Rourke and the captain Aaron Clarke found themselves on the scoresheet again today, meaning that England went in at the second break leading 3-4.
But the drama was just beginning… Hungary equalised as the third period started, but England retook the advantage through, that man again, Aaron Clarke. But then Mark Ughy’s team leveled things yet again, and this time they went one step further and went in front, leading 6-5 with just two minutes to go.
Mark Mitchell’s Lions were scrambling to form last minute attacks, and when Clarke whipped in a corner, Scott Lawson nodded in to make it six goals apiece. Not content with extra time, England pushed for all three points and when the clinical Clarke slotted home his fourth of the game the match was won with just 14 seconds on the clock.
England top Division B for this event, while Hungary will have to settle for second.
Goals: 1-0: Rutai, min. 8 (1); 2-0: Fekete, min. 3 (1); 2-1: Clarke, min. 3 (1); 3-1: Menyhei, min. 1 (1); 3-2: Younie, min. 10 (2); 3-3: O’Rourke, min. 5 (2); 3-4: Clarke, min. 4 (2); 4-4: Rutai, min. 8 (3); 4-5: Clarke, min. 6 (3); 5-5: Berkes, min. 3 (3); 6-5: Besenyei, min. 2 (3); 6-6: Lawson, min. 0 (3); 6-7: Clarke, min. 0 (3);
To see full results and standings, click here.
