Russia beats Spain: Switzerland wins the stage

Russian power was too much for Spain this time. Although Spaniards never lost track of their opponents, getting even ahead in the score at the beginning of the third quarter, last stage is the strong point of Likhachev’s squad, and they secured the points with three goals in the last minutes that changed everything.

Russians are not the ones to be the happiest after the match, though, but the Swiss, who see themselves with the cup of the European Beach Soccer League stage, thanks to their goal difference with Russia. Being both with six points, the Alpine victory over the Russian in the first match of this event mathematically grants them the title.

With the Swiss squad as the best supporters, Krasheninnikov and Leonov early made things difficult for Spain, who had in their hands winning the title. Joaquín’s side needed a victory over the Russian team to get their path clear towards the Cup, provided, by the way, they did not lose against Romania. But all these conjectures ended up being useless, since although Cristian and Juanma achieved the equalizer and Javi Torres and Juanma again put Spain ahead, Russia’s devastating last minutes gave them the advantage at the end of the game.

Goals: 1-0: Krasheninnikov, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Leonov, min. 3 (1); 2-1: Cristian T., min. 1 (1); 2-2: Juanma, min. 1 (1); 3-2: Shishin, min. 6 (2); 3-3: Javi T., min. 1 (2); 3-4: Juanma, min. 10 (3); 4-4: Makarov, min. 6 (3); 5-4: Gorchinskiy, min. 5 (3); 6-4: Shkarin, min. 2 (3).

Double bicycle kick by Rodrigues gets Switzerland the points

Switzerland has given a proof of why they are one of the best squads of the world. The Swiss, lacking great star Stankovic and Meier, still have arguments enough to brilliantly win matches against such competitive teams as Romania. In their clash today, two bicycle kicks by Rodrigues turned the score upside down in the last period, and granted the Alpine three new points that momentarily place them at the top of the table in this last Division A Euro Beach Soccer League stage that is taking place in The Hague (Netherlands).

Romanian skin was still stinging after severe defeat yesterday to Russia, and they jumped onto the sand with all their will put on getting their own back for it against Switzerland. They set it even clearer when stepping forth twice on the score, thanks to starman Maci, precisely the protagonist of all Romanian goals today. Leu and Spacca, though, neutralized the Carpathian advantage twice, and Schirinzi put Switzerland ahead. Maci, again, achieved a new equalizer on the very last second of the second period, and completed the comeback some minutes afterwards.

But Rodrigues’ minute was yet to come… Swiss number five turned the score upside down in just twenty seconds, with two bicycle kicks that found the Romanian net. He even almost scored a third one from an impossible position, but this last attempt went wide brushing the post. No more changes on the scoreboard until the end of the match leave Switzerland at the top of the table.

Goals: 0-1: Maci, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Spacca, min. 1 (1); 1-2: Maci, min. 9 (2); 2-2: Leu, min. 5 (2); 3-2: Schirinzi, min. 4 (2); 3-3: Maci, min. 0 (2); 3-4: Maci, min. 7 (3); 4-4; Rodrigues, min. 5 (3); 5-4: Rodrigues, min. 5 (3)

Stage results so far:

Thu 22.07.10

17:00 RUSSIA 4 vs. 6 SWITZERLAND

Fri 23.07.10

17:00 RUSSIA 11 vs. 1 ROMANIA

18:15 SPAIN (4) 6 vs. 6 (3) SWITZERLAND

Sat 24.07.10

17:45 SWITZERLAND 5 vs. 4 ROMANIA

19:00 RUSSIA 6 vs. 4 SPAIN

Matches for tomorrow:

17:45: ROMANIA vs. SPAIN