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Madjer and Ott grab themselves hat-tricks as day two sees a total of 29 goals
As the second day draws to a close, some teams are still to pick up Euro Beach Soccer League points, whilst Portugal make it six out of six.
Day two in Baku got underway when Switzerland met Germany.
Switzerland v Germany
Both teams were smarting from defeats yesterday and eager to pick up their first Euro Beach Soccer League points.
An Ott bicycle kick nosed Angelo Schirinzi’s men in front and Spacca doubled the tally within seconds of the kick off. Things got quickly worse for Matteo Marrucci’s Germany a minute later, as a deflection off the head of the number seven, Biermann, saw him get on the scoresheet but unfortunately for the wrong team. Three goals in two minutes meant that the Germans went into the first break trailing by three goals, and with something of a mountain to climb.
The mountain got even bigger when Ott floated one over Sasha Penke between the German sticks to make it four for Switzerland and a brace (his second in two days!) for the number ten. Korner pulled one back for Germany, but when Werder rifled one in straight from the restart, German heads dropped again as the second whistle blew with the score at 5-1.
In the third period Biermann managed to make up for his earlier error by powering in a golazo from way inside his own half. But two goals were not enough to keep pace with a sharp looking Swiss team, who brought their final tally to ten, as Ott grabbed a hat-trick.
Goals: 1-0: Ott, min. 7 (1); 2-0: Spacca, min. 7 (1); 3-0: Biermann (OG), min. 6 (1); 4-0: Ott, min. 6 (2); 4-1: Korner, min. 0 (2); 5-1: Werder, min. 0 (2); 6-1: Stankovic, min. 11 (3); 6-2: Biermann, min. 10 (3); 7-2: Hodel, min. 8 (3); 8-2: Hodel, min. 7 (3); 9-2: Ott, min. 2 (3); 10-2: Stankovic, min. 0 (3);
Portugal v France
France were in need of some points going into today’s fixture, after failing to pick up any against the hosts, Azerbaijan, yesterday. They started strongly, and Soares drove in a long-range shot to break the deadlock with just thirty seconds gone.
Gerard Sergent’s men maintained this lead for just four minutes until two quick-fire goals from Leo Martins and Coimbra put Portugal in the driver’s seat. Madjer then drove in a low shot from distance which found its way into the back of the net after a deflection or two, and a promising start for France, turned into a desperate game of catch up.
The second period began with Portugal enjoying a two-goal lead and France having some ground to make up. When Madjer nodded in his second from close-range, the task of a comeback suddenly seemed much less achievable, but France kept on fighting and saw some good chances go begging.
The teams went in to the second break with three goals separating them. But not for long, as Angeletti pulled one back for the French within a minute of the third period. However, Madjer was looking for a hat-trick and the Portuguese legend found it with a cheeky flick of a backheel, restoring a three-goal lead.
A reply did come in the form of Barbotti who, charging on as a substitute, smashed a volley into the top corner to pull one back. But it was all too little, too late and tomorrow’s match against Belarus will be France’s last chance to claim some points in Baku.
Goals: 0-1: Soares, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Leo Martins, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Coimbra, min. 6 (1); 3-1: Madjer, min. 4 (1); 4-1: Madjer, min. 11 (2); 4-2: Angeletti, min. 11 (3); 5-2: Madjer, min. 9 (3); 5-3: Barbotti, min. 4 (3);
Italy v Ukraine
After a seeing off their opponents yesterday, both sides were looking to make it six out of six points with a win today. The game started with chances being created early on at both ends, Gori hitting the post and Medved nodding wide from a meter out.
The deadlock was broken though, when a fine volley from Korniichuk rippled the Italian net and Emiliano del Duca’s side went into the break trailing. Pachev had a great chance to double the advantage with a close-range freekick but both keepers were in fine form today, and Carpita dove to his left to keep the goal deficit to just one.
The arrival of the seventh minute saw the Italians leap into action, as the captain Corosiniti’s diving header levelled the scoreline up, but within seconds of the restart, keeper Sydorenko brought down Zurlo in the area, giving himself the difficult task of facing a penalty kick from the Italian number nine. When Zurlo converted, the Ukrainians suddenly found themselves behind.
The second period finished with the Italians leading but some great link up play saw Pachev slam home an equaliser within two minutes of the third period starting. Back on level terms each team felt like a win was tantalisingly close. After normal time, there was still nothing to separate the teams, so we went to extra time, but still the winner remained undecided.
After three penalties each team had scored two, as Glutskyi skied his, and Frainetti smashed his against the inside of the post. In the end, it was the bar that would deny Italy’s Ramacciotti and Ukraine walked away with the only available point.
Goals: 0-1: Korniichuk, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Corosiniti, min. 7 (2); 2-1: Zurlo, min. 7 (2); 2-2: Pachev, min. 10 (3);
Penalties: Korniichuk, goal; Marinai, goal; Glutskyi miss; Corosiniti, goal; Shcherytsia, goal; Frainetti, miss; Pachev, goal; Gori, goal; Voitok goal, Ramacciotti, miss;
Belarus v Azerbaijan
Belarus were just edged from the points yesterday against Portugal, but Azerbaijan, with the home crowd behind them, were all fired up to build on yesterday’s impressive performance.
But it was the Belarussians who struck first, through Hapon in the sixth minute. The hosts were chancing going into the second period, but with only one goal in it they remained bright and kept the pressure on. After forcing some superb saves, they finally managed to pull themselves back on level terms half way through the second period.
The goal came from Ilkin who dived across the goalkeeper to get on the end of a long-range effort from Ramil, and the crowd went wild. Being all square was short lived, though, as Belarus retook the lead through a Bokach header from a corner. The hosts were back to square one. They then let the lead slip further, as Hapon secured a brace and Belarus took their tally to four.
With just one period left to play, Azerbaijan had some making up to do and time was running out. In the end, Ilkin’s superb goal was all the hosts could take from today’s game, and they will have to wait for their meeting against Portugal tomorrow for the last chance of some Euro Beach Soccer League points on home sand.
Goals: 1-0: Hapon, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Ilkin, min. 7 (2); 2-1: Bokach, min. 5 (2); 3-1: Samsonov, min. 1 (2); 4-1: Hapon, min. 0 (2);
To see the standings, results and fixtures of the Euro Beach Soccer League, click here.
Remember that you can watch all of the Euro Beach Soccer League Baku 2018 games LIVE on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
