STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
Hosts narrowly reach next round while Amrahbank and KP Lodz turn heads in victories
Amrahbank stays steady in healthy victory
The 9-5 win for Amrahbank over CD Bala Azul had an exciting four goal first period, three from Amrahbank, that was a precursor of more to come. It was the first match on the day and Amrahbank became the first team to qualify for the next round. A spot in the quarterfinals is something that teams never take for granted but in an event of this magnitude, CD Bala Azul and Amrahbank were taking the task very seriously. The Spanish club, Bala Azul, has had one of the stingiest defenses in the tournament and the Azerbaijan club’s defense is nothing to scoff at, so the scoreless opening minutes were not surprising. It was Amrahbank who struck first though, taking a 2-0 lead before the Spanish side got off the board. The offenses took front stage during the last half of the period and the frame ended with Amrahbank up 3-1. The Spanish side inched closer with the slotting home of a penalty kick and midway through the match, the game stood at 3-2 for Amrahbank. Bala Azul finally found the equalizer, on one of the most determined individual efforts all week from Ardil, as he was forced fight through two defenders, a turnover, a fall on the pitch and the goalie to secure the third goal. The Turkish club was not impressed and added their fourth goal, just before the break, to take a 4-3 lead into the final frame. The Azerbaijani side had one magical shot of their own that was lobbed in by Renat from the other end of the pitch and that goal had Amrahbank well on their way to the final eight. When the match came to an end, Amrahbank was up 9-5.
Goals: 0-1: Sabir, min. 6 (1); 0-2: Sabir, min. 4 (1); 1-2: Ardil, min. 4 (1); 1-3: Hikmat, min. 3 (1); 2-3: Acosta, min. 9 (2); 3-3: Ardil, min. 3 (2); 3-4: Abdul, min. 2 (2); 3-5: Asif, min. 11 (3); 3-6: Abdul, min. 9 (3); 3-7: Renat, min. 7 (3); 4-7: Ardil, min. 3 (3); 4-8: Abdul, min. 1 (3); 4-9: Sabir, min. 1 (3); 5-9: Ardil, min. 0 (3).
Goldwin Pluss inches closer to EWC glory after OT thriller
The 5-4 (aet) victory for Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC over CD Murcia was a magnificent match with big names, huge goals, and some excellent defense to boot. The match began without goals and then finished with a slew of great ones. Offense was hard to come by in the opening minutes of the game, though not from lack of want as both teams were scrambling to put the ball in the net, but could not. Goldwin Pluss controlled the possession and were on the attacking end more than Murcia but the quality shots did not come as easily as was expected from these prolific scoring offenses. The period ended without a goal but the frenetic pace made for a thrilling opening to the Round of 16 match. The goalless drought ended in a flash, on a missile from Juanma that put Murcia up 1-0 in the opening minute of the middle frame. The scoring really opened up in the second period as the Hungarian club got on the score sheet but Murcia also added to their total and the period ended with the Spanish club up 3-1. The final frame began with a flurry of shots from Goldwin and the Murcia side was backpedalling the entire time and Ughy made them pay, scoring his teams’ second goal, leaving Goldwin down only 3-2. Shortly after, the comeback was complete, as the Hungarian club scored again to level things at 3 going into the last minutes of the match. The Spanish club were not deterred in their fortitude and used a direct kick from Ezequiel to take the 4-3 lead. Hungary’s top club replied with another equalizer with just over a minute remaining, which was good enough to send the match into overtime. Fegete scored his second of the day, and most importand of the event, in the first minute in the extra frame, giving his team their first and last lead of the day at 5-4.
Goals: 0-1: Juanma, min. 11 (2); 1-1: Pachev, min. 10 (2); 1-2: Juanma, min. 8 (2); 1-3: Nick, min. 7 (2); 2-3: Ughy, min. 8 (3); 3-3: Besenyei, min. 7 (3); 3-4: Ezequiel, min. 2 (3); 4-4: Fekete, min. 1 (3); 5-4: Fekete, min. 2 (et).
KP Lodz shocks Sable Dancers for spot in last 8
The 6-4 win for KP Lodz was not what many could have expected. Even the believers in the Polish side would have been surprised with the early domination. In the end that was just fine with Lodz as they now will fight in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Sable Dancers might have been considered a lock to win this match, but that is why we play the matches. KP Lodz was not told that they might be the underdogs and they came out firing in the opening period, scoring the matches first two goals, while shutting out the high-scoring Swiss club. The first 12 minutes ended with the Polish up 3-0 over Sable Dancers. The upset bid was officially on when the Polish club scored another three goals early in the middle frame to build their improbable lead. Sable Dancers did manage get one early goal past Lodz’s defense but it was not enough to strike fear in the hearts of the KP Lodz players as the period ended with a score of 6-2 for the club from Poland. In the final frame, KP Lodz was flying around the pitch, as if they had that much more energy and an extra player but the Swiss club were trying feverishly to level the score by clawing their way back. The valiant comeback could not be completed, coming up just short, and when the final whistle sounded, the score was 6-4 for KP Lodz.
Goals: 0-1: Lenart, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Krawczyk, min. 9 (1); 0-3: Kubiak, min. 0 (1); 0-4: Klepczarek, min. 11 (2); 1-4: Fleuer, min, 9 (2); 1-5: Klepczarek, min. 9 (2); 1-6: Krawczyk, min. 8 (2); 2-6: Angel, min. 2 (2); 3-6: Tavanae, min. 6 (3); 4-6: Tavanae, min. 5 (3).
Iron-willed Braga squeezes past Antalya-Alanya for berth in Quarterfinals
Portuguese champions Sporting Clube Braga earned a place within the best eight teams in this Euro Winners Cup after a hard-fought win over Antalya-Alanya. Bending the Turkish side is nothing like an easy business, but the Lusitanian perfectly managed the tempo of the game, with timely attacks and sturdy defense, to have their opponents needing to do an extra effort in every single move. Bernardo Martins swept Braga ahead, with the opening hit just one minute into the game, and despite Erkan equalized little afterwards, the game seemed pretty much under Portuguese control. A 3-0 run confirmed it, leaving the score at 4-1 in the beginning of the third period. Antalya-Alanya kept trying, relying on the magic by their star signings Madjer and Belchior, but Braga perfectly managed the situation. Madjer pulled one back for the Turkish side, but the reaction went no further tan that, and SC Braga accessed quarterfinals.
Goals: 1-0: Bernardo Martins, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Erkan, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Gori, min. 1 (1); 3-1: Ramacciotti, min. 7 (2); 4-1: Ze Maria, min. 9 (3); 4-2: Madjer, min. 8 (3).
FC Vybor completes late comeback and moves into quarters
The 6-5 win for FC Vybor was as thrilling as they come with both teams facing deficits, fighting back and using three and four goal efforts from individual players to keep things interesting. Every single team in the Round of 16 has championship pedigree in this kind of tournament, but some of the teams have more of family tree, so to speak, of championship material. This match was an example of that with Happy Car Sambenedettese and FC Vybor both stocked with those kinds of players that always seem to find a way to win. The Happy Car side capitalized on their early chances and they jumped out to the 2-0 lead and took that advantage with them into the first break. The second period was filled with even more goals, another from Sambenedettese, but more importantly, goals one, two, and three came for Vybor, who knotted things at 3 in the final minutes of the period. The Ukrainian club had one more goal up their sleeve and score in the final seconds, the third from Brishtel, to take to 4-3 lead over the Italian Sambenedettese side, going into the final period. The first goal of the period was the third of the day for André and that was quickly followed by another Happy Car goal, putting the score at 5-4 for the Italian club. Brishtel was not done scoring and scored his game-high fourth goal to tie matters at 5 apiece going into the last minutes of the match. The final goal came from Ryabko, putting the Ukrainian club up for good, 6-5, in the final seconds of the match.
Goals: 1-0: André, min. 7 (1); 2-0: Palma, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Brishtel, min. 8 (2); 3-1: André, min. 6 (2); 3-2: Stankovic, min. 5 (2); 3-3: Brishtel, min. 3 (2); 3-4: Brishtel, min. 0 (2); 4-4: André, min. 8 (3); 5-4: Pablo Perez, min. 6 (3); 5-5: Brishtel, min. 5 (3); 5-6: Ryabko, min. 0 (3).
Lokomotiv continues EWC title push with win
The 6-3 win for BSC Lokomotiv Moscow over CS Djoker was a total performance that would make the toughest of coaches proud. The Russian side faced some adversity late in the match but they set the tone throughout and were able to overcome almost everything that Djoker sent their way. Lokomotiv, uncharacteristically, started this match this match on the attack and scored just after the first minute had gone by, but the open play led to a quick reply from Negara and the Moldovan club, Djoker. However, like a bat out of hell, the Russian club tacked on another three goals and maintained the 4-1 lead going into the middle frame. Neither side was able to score an early second period goal and the match hit the halfway point with the score staying put at 4-1. BSC Lokomotiv Moscow was content with, and more importantly, able to control the ball and limit the chances that Djoker was even able to find. Shaykov was able to break the short span of no goals as he scored his second on the day, to give the Russian side a 5-1 lead, which would stand going into the final frame. The two sides alternated goals in the final 12 minutes and the final score was 6-3 in favour of the Russian side.
Goals: 1-0: Shaykov, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Negara, min. 10 (1); 2-1: Borsuk, min. 3 (1); 3-1: Makarov, min. 1 (1); 4-1: Shkarin, min. 1 (1); 5-1: Shaykov, min. 3 (2); 5-2: Duartefilipe, min. 10 (3); 5-3: Negara, min. 8 (3); 6-3: Borsuk, min. 1 (3).
BSC Kristall barely escapes to final 8
The 4-2 win for BSC Kristall over Uskyn-Iskra was not the kind of win they are used to but they grinded out a close win by doing enough of the small things against the Azerbaijan’s best club. The opening period was played very tense as the two teams did not want to give up the first goal despite the knowledge that they both had about had about how quickly they could score. Bunches of goals were expected but the first one did not come until the final 1 minute of the frame when Ushkyn-Iskra scored on a very long distance but the lead only lasted seconds as Shishin of Kristall scored the equalizer, sending the game into the second period tied at 1. Surprisingly, the defending Euro Winners Cup 2014 champions, BSC Kristall, did not score take their first lead until three minutes into the middle frame. When Datinha scored the goal, the celebration was subdued but underestimating the relief of that goal would be a mistake. The field then began to open up for both sides as the period ended with a score of 3-2 for Kristall. Going into the middle of the final frame, the Kazakhstani club was doing a better job than anyone else had done all tournament, in limiting the Russian club and staying close, but the score remained 3-2 in favour of Kristall, with each second becoming more and more important. The match came to a thrilling conclusion as both teams sought the next goal, but it was the insurance score for Bruno Xavier of Kristall, putting the final score at 4-2.
Goals: 0-1: Zarechnyy, min. 1 (1); 1-1: Shishin, min. 0 (1); 2-1: Datinha, min. 9 (2); 3-1: Ilinskii, min. 3 (2); 3-2: Makagon, min. 3 (2); 4-2: Bruno Xavier, min. 0 (3).
Catania finishes wonderful comeback and dash into quarters
The 2-1 win for DomusBet BS Catania over Milano BS was everything you would expect from an elimination game, as well as an inter-country rivalry such as this. The momentum first went to the visitors but Catania slowly swung things their way and late in the match they took the lead and held on. The hosts, DomusBet BS Catania, knew they had the support of the crowd and did not necessarily need a fast start, but pumping up the fans is never a bad idea, but it was the guests, with their travelling fans from Milano, who struck first, injecting their own energy into the packed stadium. The excitement grew and the stadium moaned and cheered with each miss or great save, but the opening frame ended with Milano holding the 1-0 lead. The second period was filled with close-calls and great saves, as the teams fought to a 0-0 draw and the guest, Milano BS, stayed ahead, still at 1-0. The equalizer came in the first minutes of the final period, with Zurlo taking it upon himself to launch a rocket that happened to hit the back of the net and leveled things at 1-1. The magic was officially dripping from the stadium walls when Rodrigo made a magnificent turn-around shot while falling backwards that could not be stopped and the rocket of a shot gave Catania their first lead of the day at 2-1, late in the closing frame. The crowd was on its feet and people were holding their breath in hopes of seeing another goal, the Milano fans for the equalizer and Catania for a safety goal. Neither came and the action sadly had to come to an end, with DomusBet BS Catania on the winning side 2-1.
Goals: 0-1: Maiorano, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Zurlo, min. 10 (3); 2-1: Rodrigo, min. 4 (3).
EURO WINNERS CUP 2015
Results Today:
Friday 05.06.15
11:15 – CD Bala Azul 5-9 Amrahbank FC (Round of 16)
12:30 – Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC 5-4 (aet) CD Murcia (Round of 16)
13:45 – BSC Sable Dancers Bern 4-6 KP Lodz (Round of 16)
15:00 – SC Braga 4-2 Antalya-Analya BSC (Round of 16)
16:15 – Happy Car Sambenedettese 5-6 FC Vybor (Round of 16)
17:30 – FC Lokomotiv 6-3 CS Djoker (Round of 16)
18:45 – BSC Kristall 4-2 Ushkyn-Iskra (Round of 16)
20:00 – DomusBet BS Catania 2-1 Milano BS (Round of 16)
Upcoming Matches:
Saturday 06.06.15
09:30 – BSC Kristall vs Goldwin Pluss Bodon FC (Quarterfinal)
10:45 – FC Lokomotiv vs KP Lodz (Quarterfinal)
12:00 – FC Vybor vs SC Braga (Quarterfinal)
13:15 – DomusBet BS Catania vs Amrahbank (Quarterfinal)
18:15 – Winner Quarterfinals 3 vs Winner Quarterfinals 4 (Semifinal)
18:15 – Loser Quarterfinals 3 vs Loser Quarterfinals 4 (Consolation Semifinal)
19:30 – Winner Quarterfinals 1 vs Winner Quarterfinals 2 (Semifinal)
19:30 – Loser Quarterfinals 1 vs Loser Quarterfinals 2 (Consolation Semifinal)
