STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
Portugal claim a record sixth Euro Beach Soccer League title in Figueira Da Foz
It was the perfect end to a perfect run for Mario Narciso’s men in their home Superfinal, as they came back to down Russia by four goals to two in a nervy final and claim the 2019 European title for a sixth time, the first team to do so.
In a re-run of the Superfinal of last season, Spain took on Italy but this year La Roja were the victors, taking up third place and a last-minute goal saw Belarus snatch fifth, leave the Turkish in sixth.
Switzerland went winless in their time in Figueira Da Foz, but were part of an incredible 16-goal thriller, just edged by Ukriane, who took seventh.
Russia 2-4 Portugal (SUPERFINAL)
It wasn’t that long ago that these sides had won the Euro Beach Soccer League, Portugal in 2015 and Russia more recently in 2017, but it was clear that this had no effect on their desire, as the match started a top speed.
Zemskov looked sure to get Likhachev’s men off the mark when he won an early penalty but the enormous figure of Andrade stood firm and his save saw the crowd erupt in applause.
But moments later, the Russian striker spun away from Coimbra to volley in the opener and the stands fell silent once more.
A Makarov freekick made it two before the first break and the Portuguese looked nervous.
The locals created numerous chances but, a lot like Azerbaijan had in the Promotion Final earlier, but they wasted them, allowing the Russians to lead way into the second period.
Leo Martins drove a low shot bouncing off the sand to pull one back seconds before the second period finished, but the more time ticked on, the more desperate the players and supporters became.
But then, scorer of yesterday’s wonder goal, Rui Coimbra, headed in an equalizer with six minutes of play left. Not long after, Belchior pounced on a goalkeeping error to nod in the third and Portugal were in front!
Makarov missed a dangerously-placed freekick and it looked as if luck was on the hosts’ side, and even more so when Leo Martins set his twin brother up with a cheeky backheel to make it four!
Two to the good, and just a minute on the clock, Portugal held onto possession and when the final whistle went the fans went wild and there was no rushing to leave the stadium as they stayed to watch their heroes received the continent’s biggest award.
The European crown returns to Portugal!
Goals: 1-0: Zemskov, min. 5 (1); 2-0: Makarov, min. 1 (1); 2-1: Leo Martins, min. 0 (2); 2-2: Coimbra, min. 6 (3); 2-3: Belchior, min. 4 (3); 2-4: Be Martins, min. 1 (3);
Spain 4-1 Italy (Division A – 3/4 play-off)
La Roja took on the Azzurri in a slightly less intense replay of the 2018 Superfinal in Alghero, where Italy claimed their first title in over a decade from the penalty spot.
This time around, the prize was a third-place finish, and it was Adri Frutos who got the game underway, striking past the keeper midway through the first period.
La Roja lead at the break, but David Adril sent a wayward backpass sailing past his own keeper, Dona, to level the score for Italy. Del Duca’s men threatened, but were without Gabriele Gori through injury and Zurlo through suspension, who had taken up the goal-scoring mantel so far in the tournament.
An Antonio double saw Spain pull ahead of their Mediterranean rivals and in the final minute, Chiky hit a low shot past Carpita to wrap up the third-place finish.
Italy drop in the final standings of last year from first to fourth, while Alonso’s men enjoy a small taste of reprisal for last year’s final and take the bron.
Goals: 1-0: Adri Frutos, min. 5 (1); 1-1: David, min. 5 (2); 2-1: Antonio, min. 1 (2); 3-1: Antonio, min. 2 (3); 4-1: Chiky, min. 1 (3);
Belarus 5-4 Turkey (Division A – 5/6 play-off)
Belarus grasped the fifth place in this 2019 Euro Beach Soccer League following a tight and thrilling win over Turkey.
Not even two minutes into the game, Ryabko got a ball from Bryshtel, lifted it up and fired it home with a brilliant bicycle kick to sweep the Belarusian side ahead. Three minutes later, Hapon Aleh copy-pasted his teammate’s move to double the advantage for Belarus.
To make things even clearer, the Belarusian number 14 produced another overhead kick to make it 3-0, but, this time, Turkey replied in exactly the same fashion, with Cem Keskin pulling one back. That spurred Turkey on the number ten scored another brilliant scissor kick.
Things slowed down in the middle frame, but Belarus still managed to widen the distance again, thanks to Bokach’s long-range attempt. After that, Mehmet was on hand for Turkey to prevent Belarus geting another goal, and the score remained 4-2 by the end of the period.
One lost ball saw Turkey pulling a goal back and then another bicycle kick from Cem Keskin made it 4-4, and everything seemed to point to extra-time to decide who took fifth place in this year’s Euro Beach Soccer League.
But Belarus managed to resolve the situation in their favour beforewhen Savich sealed the win with a last minute strike.
Goals: 1-0: Ryabko, min. 10; 2-0: Hapon, min. 7 (1); 3-0: Hapon, min. 5 (1); 3-1: Cem Keskin, min. 3 (1); 3-2: Cem Keskin, min. 2 (1); 4-2: Bokach, min. 2(1); 4-3: Bariç, min. 5(3); 4-4: Cem Keskin, min. 1(3); 5-4: Savich, min. 0 (3)
Switzerland 7-9 Ukraine (Division A – 7/8 play-off)
Two previous winners of the Euro Beach Soccer League (Switzerland in 2012 and Ukraine in 2016) met today to contend seventh-place in the 2019 edition.
The Swiss squad had been severely hit by injuries and absences and it seems that the lack of options on the bench took its toll.
Pachev got Ukraine underway with a sweet shot, and soon after Shcherytsia doubled the advantage. It was three by the time the first klaxon sounded and Switzerland were flagging.
However, they totally turned the match around in the second and third periods, managing to pull Ukraine back to 7-8 with just a minute to go, thanks to Ott, Hodel, keeper Eliott and a Steinemann double.
The comeback was cruelly cut short when Zborovskyi spun to poke past Eliott, wrapping up a nervous win, as the Ukrainians take seventh place.
Goals: 0-1: Pachev, min. 5 (1); 0-2: Shcherytsia, min. 4 (1); 0-3: Voitok, min. 2 (1); 1-3: Hodel, min. 11 (2); 1-4: Makeiev, min. 9 (2); 2-4: Ott, min. 6 (2); 2-5: Voitenko, min. 6 (2); 3-5: Steinemann, min. 6 (2); 4-5: Eliott, min. 2 (2); 5-5: Ott, min. 1 (2); 5-6: Ott (OG), min. 8 (3); 6-6: Steinemann min. 4 (3); 6-7: Zborovskyi, min. 3 (3); 6-8: Medved, min. 1 (3); 7-8: Hodel, min. 1 (3); 7-9: Zborovskyi, min. 1 (3);
Stay up to date on the Euro Beach Soccer League – Superfinal Figueira da Foz 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
