Brazil set to face Italy and Iran will take on Russia in the next round
The battles for the semi-final spots went right down to the wire on the final day of the beach soccer group games at the World Beach Games Qatar 2019.
Another tantalizing Mediterranean battle saw Italy overcome Spain to earn a match against the world champions Brazil, who beat Switzerland in Group A.
Iran’s nervy match against Paraguay ended in triumph for the Persians, while their knockout tie rivals will be Russia who squeezed two shaky points out of Japan.
Group C
Iran 5-4 Paraguay
Paraguay will host and participate in the World Cup later this year. One of the more surprising absentees from that tournament will be Iran, who, despite Intercontinental Cup glory in 2018, failed to qualify for beach soccer’s showpiece event.
Here however, they ran out winners after outlasting Paraguay’s persistent pestering. Not until the final four minutes did Iran establish a lead of more than one goal (itself reduced rapidly to one before the end) on the other hand, nor were they behind at any stage of the match.
Paraguay pugnaciously perforated the wheels of Iran’s intended runaway train time and time again. Equalisers from Carballo, Benitez, and Rolon pegged back Persian prospects deep into the second period.
Iran goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini, renowned for his goal of the tournament at the last World Cup, did not feature here, but his replacement, Hamid, went some way to filling the iconic Iranian’s gloves.
With five minutes left, he indulged in several touches to advance from his goal, juggling the ball as he went. One touch lifted the ball higher than those which preceded, intentions subtly revealed, he adjusted his gait for his right foot to coincide with the descending sphere. The impact of this collision sent the ball arcing away from Ovelar’s outstretched left hand to give Iran the lead for the final time.
Masoumi scored a fifth on the counter as Paraguay pushed for parity, though Carballo later managed to manoeuvre his way past man mountain, Akbari, and drive past Hamid in goal to leave the final score at 5-4.
This was a close match which ultimately gave us a superior victor, and if for that it is that we watch or partake in sport, then there can be few complaints after this encounter.
Goals: 1-0: Mokhtari, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Carballo, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Masoumi, min. 8 (2); 2-2: Benitez, min. 7 (2); 3-2: Shir, min. 7 (2); 3-3: Rolon, min. 4 (2); 4-3: Hamid, min. 5 (3); 5-3: Masoumi, min. 4 (3); 5-4: Carballo, min. 1 (3)
Senegal 7-5 Ukraine
Ukraine may have been out of the running for medals at the first ever edition of the World Beach Games, but a win for the Lions of Teranga could have seen them make the semi-finals.
Voitenko got the men in blue off the mark midway through the first period but Nyode, after missing a penalty in the shootout against Iran the previous day, netted to restore the equilibrium.
Voitenko made it two, but Niang pounded in a screamer from the left flank and a minute later Diatta hit another blistering strike from even further out, to snatch the lead before the whistle.
The Senegalese showed what they could do if given too much space in the middle of the park and after the break Ukraine pressed higher. A stroke of luck for Ukraine saw an own goal level things up, and Voitenko then completed his hat-trick to take the lead once more.
The Lions were never far behind and Fall pounced on a goalkeeping error to turn into an open net and then scored again to put Senegal back in control after the second break.
Strikes from Diassy and Diagne, as well as a brilliant blast from Ukrainian keeper Nerush, took the final score to 7-5.
Senegal had done all they could to make the cut, but Iran’s tight victory over Paraguay means that they African champions fall short of making the final four.
Goals: 0-1: Voitenko, min. 7 (1); 1-0: Nyode, min. 1 (1); 1-2: Voitenko, min. 1 (1); 2-2: Niang, min. 1 (1); 3-2: Diatta, min. 0 (1); 3-3: Niang (OG), min. 1 (2); 3-4: Voitenko, min. 1 (2); 4-4: Fall, min. 0 (2); 5-4: Fall, min. 9 (3); 6-4: Diassy, min. 8 (3); 6-5: Nerush, min. 6 (3); 7-5: Diagne, min. 1 (3);
Group B
Italy 5-4 Spain
This classic Mediterranean rivalry is regularly played when the stakes are at their highest, and today’s match for a place in the World Beach Games semi-final was no exception.
Adri Frutos blasted La Roja ahead in the first period and this slim lead was all there was to separate the sides going into the second period.
Chiky doubled the advantage early on, but Palmacci was on hand to stop Alonso’s men, who finished as silver medalists in the European Games, from running away with the match.
The towering Javi Torres added a third before Gori pinned them back once more, taking the score to 2-3. Cintas managed to poke in number four and the Spanish bench exploded in celebration.
However, the Azzurri slowly wore them down as Palmacci and Corosiniti turned the match round with some converted freekicks, punishing the Spanish who desperately defending their slimming lead.
Gori’s scrambled goal was the final killer blow, putting Italy ahead at 5-4 and with just minutes on the clock, disappointment at the hands of their European rivals was theirs once again.
Italy will play in Tuesday’s semi-final.
Goals: 0-1: Adri Frutos, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Chiky, min. 7 (2); 1-2: Palmacci, min. 7 (2); 1-3: Javi Torres, min. 7 (2); 2-3: Gori, min. 4 (2); 2-4: Cintas, min. 9 (3); 3-4: Palmacci, min. 7 (3); 4-4: Corosiniti, min. 6 (3); 5-4: Gori, min. 3 (3);
Mexico 8-2 Solomon Islands
Conceding eight goals in three successive games is unlikely to get you very far at this tournament and the Solomon Islands have found that out to their cost. There is no great shame in 8-5 defeats to European heavyweights Spain and Italy, but they only troubled the scorers twice here and lost their way badly in the third period.
Vizcarra scored either side of Fa’ari’s equaliser in a balanced opening period. At the start of the second, Kepangi received a booking for catching Franco in the act of charging down the Mexican goalkeeper. Fa’ari had a dangerous free kick saved by the same man before Maldonado scored his side’s third of the night.
Roy Mafane has provided some moments of impressive quality in his three matches here, and a rambunctious run culminated in him driving the ball with his left foot only just wide of Franco’s right-hand post.
Vizcarra hit the post from an acute angle at the end of the second period, deprived thus far of his hat-trick goal, before Koipala opened the scoring in the final period bringing the score within one.
Vizcarra did in the third what he failed to do in the second and thus concluded his treble, after Mendez had responded promptly to Koipala’s gambit.
A Villa strike, capitalising on an out-of-position goalkeeper, and two more from Maldonado to join team-mate Vizcarra with a hat-trick before the end of the night embellished the scoreboard, and the prevailing sensation, for Mexico who finally have a win. Solomon Islands, expectedly, cannot say the same.
Goals; 1-0: Vizcarra, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Fa’ari, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Vizcarra, min. 1 (1); 3-1: Maldonado, min. 3 (2); 3-2: Koipala, min. 10 (3); 4-2: Mendez, min. 10 (3); 5-2: Vizcarra, min. 4 (3); 6-2: Villa, min. 3 (3); 7-2: Maldonado, min. 1 (3); 8-2: Maldonado, min. 0 (3)
Group A
Brazil 7-4 Switzerland
A win today would see the victor become the second team to qualify for the semi-finals to face Italy.
The ever-potent Rodrigo hit the opener from close range against his club side Kristall’s coach, Angelo Schirinzi, after just seconds.
But the looming Stankovic equalised midway through the period. A flurry of goals followed where Rodrigo bagged an early hat-trick and Noel Ott also got his name on the team sheet.
The first whistle sounded at 3-2, but the goal-scoring didn’t stop there. The restart saw Filipe, Spacca, Bokinha and Catarino join their teammates on the match report as the score was pushed to 6-3.
Antonio drove in another for Brazil to take their final tally to seven, and Switzerland also managed to add another, making the final score 7-4, but they did so with potentially the goal of the tournament – or year – contender.
What made it so impressive was the powerful cross-field pass from the outside of Borer’s foot, which was then pounded into the top corner by the Swiss star number ten, Noel Ott.
It was a small consolation in the end, but the world champions were on a different level in their final group game, as Brazil cruise into a semi-final tie against Italy.
Goals: 1-0: Rodrigo, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Stankovic, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Rodrigo, min. 5 (1); 2-2: Ott, min. 4 (1); 3-2: Rodrigo, min. 3 (1); 4-2: Filipe, min. 8 (2); 4-3: Spacca, min. 8 (2); 5-3: Bokinha, min. 6 (2); 6-3: Catarino, min. 3 (2); 7-3: Antonio, min. 7 (3); 7-4: Ott, min. 6 (3);
UAE 1-4 Morocco
UAE lost respectably to Switzerland and Brazil, while Morocco were also defeated by both those opponents, though the scorelines were ostensibly less flattering.
Elhadaoui, brilliant throughout, opened the scoring before adding a second to round off the result. He was a constant worry for UAE defenders, a dangerous player with no lack of guile.
Morocco’s fourth of the night erupted from his right foot before coming to a swift halt on impact with the blue netting of the UAE goal. The smart use of his substantial frame in protecting the ball, turning adeptly and firing past Aljasmi was the mark of a player of some pedigree.
Al Muntaser brought a spectacular stop from Souary in the Moroccan goal as riposte to Elhadaoui’s opener, and Souary saved again from Salem’s flying flicked header. Morocco’s goal scorer also found time to test Aljasmi again after another delicate deceitful turn.
The second period was short on chances until Abagli netted the Africans’ second goal. The big number five Sami Iazal added a third and celebrated the feat with some fervour.
Abbas retrieved some lost Arab pride seconds later towards the end of the second period, but in the third, Morocco should have extended their lead at least once. Elhadaoui beat the goalkeeper but his shot was cleared from the goalmouth by Deryaei. Fanchy had a penalty saved before Aboutalbi struck straight at the goalkeeper.
Elhadaoui eventually offered his own embellishment, while UAE go home winless.
Goals: 0-1: Elhadaoui, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Abagli, min. 5 (2); 0-3: Iazal, min. 3 (2); 1-3: Abbas, min. 3 (2); 1-4: Elhadaoui, min. 0 (3);
Group D
Russia 6-5 Japan *AET
Japan had won the AFC champions earlier in the year, but if they could make the semi-finals of the World Beach Games by beating a former world champion, their season would take on a whole different level of success…
An amazing opener from keeper Ginoza put Ruy Ramos’ men in front, and when Komaki doubled the score, Russia were looking nervous within just three minutes of the game.
Zemskov and Krash calmed the Russian bench a little but an incredible bicycle kick from Okuyama smashed the Samurai ahead going into the break.
Paporotnyi netted just after the restart, and then, after seeing his opposite number get involved in the scoring, Russian keeper Bazhenov blasted in number four to take the lead for Russia.
Okuyama levelled with his second, a penalty this time, but a calmly taken Makarov goal put Likhachev’s men in control going into the final 12 minutes.
Japan were not finished though, and Matsou floated in from the right to convert a fifth for Japan. But Asia’s kings let the match slip in the cruelest of ways, as Ozu slid in on Paporotnyi who was sprinting towards goal.
The foul was given, and the big Russian number ten was not going to miss from the favourable angle and distance, and the goal saw them squeeze into the final by the skin of their teeth to face Iran in Tuesday’s knockouts.
Goals: 0-1: Ginoza, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Komaki, min. 8 (1); 1-2: Zemskov, min. 6 (1); 2-2: Krash, min. 5 (1); 2-3: Okuyama, min. 5 (1); 3-3: Paporotnyi, min. 11 (2); 4-3: Bazhenov min. 8 (2); 4-4: Okuyama, min. 5 (2); 5-4: Makarov, min. 2 (2); 5-5: Matsou, min. 2 (3); 6-5: Paporotnyi, min. 0 (3);
Uruguay 2-5 El Salvador
After both suffering defeats to Russia and Japan, this match was for the wooden spoon in Group D. Jason cleanly put two loose balls into largely vacated nets halfway through the first period.
Velasquez’ sneakily squeezed the ball through the Uruguayan goalkeeper’s legs for a third El Salvador goal without reply before the interval, after Cazet had driven high and wide from the Uruguay right.
The second period started with Jason redirecting a wayward Elmer scissor kick over the crossbar from a matter of yards. Uruguay’s Costa coolly cracked in a stunner yesterday but was wilder here as he, and Pazos Fernandez, failed to test Portillo with set pieces.
A Jason free kick was too strong for Jauregi to keep out the net, completing the Central American forward’s hat-trick inside the second period. A looping Suarez overhead kick bounced wide of Portillo’s goal as the Celeste entered the third period, goalless, pointless, and luckless.
Agustin made things all the more unsavoury for the Charrua by netting a fifth. Cabrera and Laens bludgeoned a free kick each past Portillo either side of a strange red card for Bella de Ureta.
A loss which concludes a disappointing tournament for Uruguay saw them finish below their conquerors here. Russia beat Japan in the other game to top the group and progress to the semi-finals.
Goals: 0-1: Jason, min. 5 (1); 0-2: Jason, min. 5 (1); 0-3: Velasquez, min. 0 (1); 0-4: Jason, min. 4 (2); 0-5: Agustin, min. 11 (3); 1-5: Cabrera, min. 9 (3); 2-5: Laens, min. 2 (3);
15.10.2019
17:30 – Russia v Iran (Men’s Semi-finals)
20:30 – Brazil v Italy (Men’s Semi-finals)
Stay up-to-date on the ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
