Power Horse EBSL Torredembarra 2012 opening keeps all options open for Div. A teams as Ukraine and England get ahead in Div. B
Ukraine misses no time in getting up front
Ukraine wanted to begin securing their way to the Promotion final yet in the opening game in the Division B pool of this Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League Torredembarra. Acknowledging that one single mistake could have them out of the road, Bozhenko’s side took on Estonia with the idea of getting in control of the game as soon as possible, and first period was rather prolific for them, as Sydorenko and Pachev, with the first of his two goals today, would sweep their side 2-0 ahead.
The Estonians, in turn, did not fear the opponents they were facing, regardless Ukraine has turned into a regular European top 5 and they see this year as their final assault to the Division A Promotion. Aniko’s lads tried to never lose face to the game, even replying the early hits by Ukraine for the 2-1 at the fourth minute of the second period.
But during that second leg, though, the Ukrainians would definitely have things unbalanced in their favour, with Zvorobskiy and Pachev raising the 4-1. A ball decisively deflected by Anton in the opening of the last stage would even widen the gap, with the 5-1, and despite Estonia tried to keep in the fight, things were too uphill for them at that moment, especially when seeing the level of concentration fielded by Ukraine. The final 6-3 gets Bozhenko’s side on the perfect track to earn a ticket to The Hague, something they will need to keep working for in the upcoming matches, beginning with tomorrow’s fixture against Andorra.
Goals: 1-0: Sydorenko, min. 8 (1); 2-0: Pachev, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Aniko, min. 8 (2); 3-1: Zvorobskiy, min. 6 (2); 4-1: Pachev, min. 4 (2); 5-1: Anton (og), min. 11 (3); 5-2: Saharov, min. 8 (3); 5-3: Aniko, min. 3 (3); 6-3: Zvorobskiy, min. 1 (3); 6-4: Galkin, min. 0 (3)
Tight victory bags first points for England (3-4)
England took a rather satisfying first step in the Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League 2012, taking place this weekend in Torredembarra (Tarragona). A one-goal victory over Andorra got the English National Team their first three points of the season, taking them closer to the Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final. It is not going to be an easy mission, though, as Bowes’ lads still have to face the fiercest opponents in this Division B pool to see their door to The Hague really open.
Andorra turned to be a tougher team than what England may have planned. After Temple’s opener, Godoy’s immediate reply proved the Pyrenean side’s expectation flew higher than just being a part of the competition. Soon, Webb swept England ahead again, and Temple rounded his double for the 1-3 that definitely meant the English seizing the game’s control. Bowes’ side managed to make the most of that two-goal advantage, as it provided the room to react after any eventual hit by the Andorran. In the last period, Mejias’ 2-3 was again neutralized through Lawson’s 2-4, and Andorra’s last effort (Mejías once again) was not enough to contest England’s position in the remaining minutes.
The final whistle, then, got England following the Ukrainian footsteps, both heading for the top of the table in this Division B. English and Ukraine, indeed, are likely to battle on Sunday for the last ticket for the Promotion Final, to happen next week on Dutch soil.
Goals: 0-1: Temple, min. 8 (2); 1-1: Godoy, min. 6 (2); 1-2: Webb, min. 6 (2); 1-3: Temple, min. 1 (2); 2-3: Mejías, min. 9 (3); 2-4: Lawson, min. 3 (3); 3-4: Mejías, min. 2 (3)
Penalty kick shootout get Spain closer to The Hague
Spain could finally clinch the points in their first game in the Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League stage they are hosting in Torredembarra. The Spaniards, who know that only two victories during the weekend would get them to the EBSL Superfinal, saw fortune smiling at them from the penalty kick spot, after the 1-1 on the score. Poland, who would have got straight to The Hague should they have won the game today made things really hard for Alonso’s side, but will need to keep fighting for one of the slots for the final continental battle.
When Juanma swept La Roja ahead in the first minutes of the match, amid a wonderful atmosphere, it seemed that everything was set for a sweet afternoon for the hosts. But it was not, as none of the subsequent attempts to widen the distance worked fine enough, and a one-goal rent is too tight a distance in front of such a combative and talented team as Poland. With little more than five minutes for the final whistle, Frieszkemut turned the menace into truth, sending the game into extra time.
The extra three minutes saw no changes in the score, and the penalty shootout was left as the only way to decide whose side would the points fall to. It was Spain’s, as after the nets by Amarelle and Baran, and the missed attempts by Juanma and Wydmuszek, Beiro would make the difference for his side, sending his ball in, something Olejniczak did not manage to do. With the four points collected so far, both Spaniards and Polish will need another victory to see themselves flying to The Hague.
Goals: 1-1: Juanma, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Frieszkemut, min. 5 (3)
Penalty shootout: Amarelle, in; Baran, in; Juanma, Gorecki saves; Wydmuszeck, out; Beiro, in; Olejniczak, out.
Switzerland access Superfinal after 15 goals!
After a brilliant game, The Swiss National Team was the third side to secure their berth in the Euro Beach Soccer Superfinal. The Alpine just needed one victory in this Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League Torredembarra 2012, and they lasted no longer than the first day to clinch it. It was nothing easy though, as only the eight goals scored by Schirinzi’s lads were enough to bent the Portuguese records, with seven hits today.
Despite the terrific contribution by Jordan, with four goals, nothing seemed able to stop the Swiss today. Led by a prolific Kaspar Jaeggy, hat-trick scorer, Switzerland hit first and kept almost the whole game ahead in the score, although Portugal managed to be always close, if not more at some point.
Indeed, after struggling the whole match long, Ze Miguel’s side even achieved to turn the score around by mid third period, when the 3-0 run led by Jordan got them 7-6 ahead. What the most hard part of the way seemed completed, Switzerland came back again to snatch the Lusitanian the three points that meant the ticket to the one seizing them. With the current EBSL runner-ups already qualified for the Superfinal, Portugal keep having all their options, as one single win in the remaining two matches will also mean for Madjer and co. the chance to battle the five best teams in the continent. Tomorrow they will have a second chance, against Poland.
Goals: 0-1: Leu, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Graça, min. 8 (1); 1-2: Coimbra (og), min. 2 (1); 2-2: Jordan, min. 1 (1); 2-3: Spacca, min. 11 (2); 2-4: Kaspar, min. 9 (2); 3-4: José Maria, min. 6 (2); 3-5: Rodrigues, min. 4 (2); 4-5: Torres, min. 4 (2); 4-6: Kaspar, min. 4 (2); 5-6: Jordan, min. 4 (2); 6-6: Jordan, min. 2 (2); 7-6: Jordan, min. 6 (3); 7-7: Schirinzi, min. 4 (3); 7-8: Kaspar, min. 2 (3)
POWER HORSE EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE TORREDEMBARRA 2012
Results today
Fri 17.08.12
11:00 – Ukraine 6-4 Estonia
12:15 – Andorra 3-4 England
13:30 – Poland 1(0)-1(1) Spain
14:45 – Portugal 7-8 Switzerland
Matches for tomorrow:
Sat 18.06.12
10:00 – Ukraine vs Andorra
11:15 – England vs Estonia
12:30 – Spain vs Switzerland
13:45 – Portugal vs. Poland
