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The World and European champions reedit glory after tight win over Spain, as Portugal clinches third
The 4-3 win for Russia was emotional, a roller coaster, and end-to-end action. The Russian went down early and faced not only a very tough Spanish side but also the crowd that always made themselves known. The quality of play was out of this world as both teams had their stars play to the best of their abilities, trying to will their squad to victory. Spain falls to Russia for the second major beach soccer event in a row, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti 2013 and now the EBSL 2014 Torredembarra Superfinal.
Spain could not have started the match any quicker or better as they scored within three seconds, on the kick from Antonio and immediately put their Russian rivals on their heels. Russia saw their opportunities sniffed out before they really had a chance to materialize and in the final minutes of the opening period, Spain still clung to their one goal lead with Russia cranking up their defensive intensity as well. The emotional period ended with the hosts up by a score of 1-0 over Russia. Both teams went on the attack often in the opening minutes of the middle frame and Russia was the team that hit the net first, with Shkarin tying the match at 1. It did not take long for the local hero, Llorenç, to score his first of the day to put Spain back on top with a score of 2-1. Peremitin and Shishin of Russia wanted to get in on the scoring and did within a minute of each other, to take the 3-2 lead into the final period.
To spur on their team, the local fans got louder and louder, despite Spain facing the final period deficit, however the noise reached an all time high when Llorenç scored his second goal of the match to tie things at 3, in the early minutes of the period. The chances for both teams were breathtaking as the excitement reached new levels. Spain wanted to avenge their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti 2013 championship game loss, and Russia wanted to prove they were still Europe’s and the World’s best. Going into the final minutes with the score still tied, the two beach soccer giants found ways to get open shots on goal but they were not falling for anyone. Russia used the second goal of the day from Peremitin to take the lead late in the match and make the Furia Roja nervous. When the final buzzer sounded, Russia was once again crowned champion with the 4-3 win.
Goals: 1-0: Antonio, min. 12 (1); 1-1: Shkarin , min. 9 (2); 2-1: Llorenç, min. 8 (2); 2-2: Peremitin, min. 3 (2); 2-3: Shishin, min. 2 (2); 3-3: Llorenç, min. 9 (3); 3-4: Peremitin, min. 2 (3).
Portugal takes 3rd place in Superfinal after defeating Swiss
Portugal’s 6-2 victory over Switzerland was a commanding one as the Swiss always have a furious attack and offensive prowess, but Portugal took all the blows that the Swiss had to offer. Switzerland scored first but could not control the train that is the Portuguese offense. Portugal played sound offense and defense to keep the Switzerland’s attackers at bay. The win means that Portugal is the 3rd best team in Europe and they will hope to improve upon that next season. Switzerland finished fourth and despite the loss they can feel excited about next season in the Euro Beach Soccer League as well as in the European Olympics in Baku in 2015, as the top six Division A teams from this years’ Superfinal, automatically qualified.
The two teams did not come out timid and played very aggressively in the opening minutes, and the first team to reap the benefits was Switzerland when they were given a direct kick in a dangerous area, which was slotted home by Stankovic, giving the Swiss the early 1-0 lead. The Nati doubled their lead near the middle of the frame, but Portugal responded with their first goal, a great finish from Jordan, and a late goal from Belchior to tie the game at 2. Portugal took their first lead early in the first period when their Superstar, Madjer, knocked in a rocket on a direct kick from long range, to put his team up 3-2. Going into the final minutes of the period, the Portuguese and Swiss had played very even and the score remained the same until Alan of Portugal finished a series of juggles and passes with a shot on goal to give his team the 4-2 lead going into the final break.
Jordan and Portugal began the final period just how they needed with quick goal to go up by a score of 5-2. Switzerland were getting their looks and shots on goal but the Portuguese keepers and defense were shutting them down. Going into the meat of the final period, the Jordan goal was the only one even though both teams were not playing it safe at all, they were attacking and taking risks. The stop and start action picked up when Madjer scored his second of the game to put Portugal for good at 6-2, with only a handful of minutes remaining. The last buzzer sound with Portugal up 6-2.
Goals: 1-0: Stankovic, min. 9 (1); 2-0: Spacca (O.G.), min. 5 (1); 2-1: Jordan, min. 4 (1); 2-2: Belchior, min. 3 (1); 2-3: Madjer, min. 10 (2); 2-4: Alan, min. 1 (2); 2-5: Jordan, min. 10 (3); 2-6: Madjer, min. 5 (3).
Italy is Europe’s 5th best after penalties win over Ukraine
The 2(5)-2(4) penalties win for Italy over Ukraine gives them 5th place in the Superfinal. The Italians started the match slow but rounded into form while Ukraine hung tough and forced an overtime that was played equally as tough by both sides, which led to a dramatic penalties win. The successive penalties matches in the Superfinal sets the stage for even more drama in the 3rd place match and Superfinal. The loss is a tough one to swallow for Ukraine, however they are still headed to Baku in 2015 for the European Olympics and they finished in 6th place in the Superfinal, one spot better than last year, when they placed 7th.
Italy and Ukraine were present for the final moments of the opening Superfinal match of the day, Belarus and Germany, and wanted to make sure that they were not outdone and the high-quality play in the opening minutes showed how good these two teams are and how similar as well. The prolific offense of the Azzurri met the brick wall defense of Ukraine and the timely attacks and counters of Ukraine won in the first period, scoring the periods’ only goal, making the score 1-0 for the Ukrainians at the end of the first period. Italy has always been able to play from behind or ahead and in the opening minutes of the middle frame, they erased the one goal deficit with a goal from Marinai to square things at 1 apiece. The goals continued to flow as Ukraine was awarded a penalty kick late in the period to tie the game at two. The pace intensified and the action was continual however no other goals were scored in the second period and the score was 2-2 going into the final break.
The deciding period was played at a slower and more calculated pace with each team looking for the extra more perfect pass or shot and the two Division A squads did not initially find the back of the net and going towards the final minutes, the match was tied at two. The Italians, as always, were very inventive and creative on offense but the stout defense of Ukraine held strong to eliminate the potential threats they faced. Neither side was able to get the deciding goal and for the second straight time, the match went into overtime. The overtime was controlled by Ukraine but their shots were not powerful enough to shrug off the Italian defense. Overtime could not separate the the Blue and Yellows from the Azzurri and the game went into penalties, where Esposito’s lads prevailed for the 5th place in the season.
Goals: 1-0: Pachev, min. 1 (1); 1-1: Marinai, min. 9 (2); 2-1: Corosiniti, min. 8 (2); 2-2: Zborovskvi, min. 4 (2).
Penalties: Korniichuk: goal; Marrucci: goal; Voitenko: goal; Palmacci: goal; Budzko: saved; Zurlo: saved; Zborovskvi: goal; Gori: goal; Borsuk I.: goal; Marinai: goal; Medvid: saved; Corosiniti: goal.
Penalties victory gives Belarus 7th in Superfinal
The 3(9)-3)(8) penalties victory was just a microcosm to how the entire game was played, neither side was willing to give an inch. The Germans fell behind early but continued to fight and claw until the tied the match in the final period, despite being down by two goals at the time. The overtime was played scoreless but both sides slotted home every penalty until the very last one. The win gives Belarus a very respectable 7th place finish in the Division A Superfinal. Germany climbed their way out of the bottom of Division A in 2013 but this season their storybook story ended in the Superfinal, among Europe’s best, and they find themselves in eighth place.
Belarus came out firing and though Germany weathered the maelstrom, they had not generated any real offense until their star, Thürk, netted the first goal of the match to put the Germans up by one going into the heart of the period. As the final minutes of the opening period came to a close, both sides had struck the goal posts but no other goals were scored and the period ended with a score of Germany 1-0 Belarus. The Belarusians struck pay dirt when they took a beautiful shot on goal, but then took the rebound and slotted it home, tying the match at 1 early in middle frame. Belarus tacked on another goal in the closing minutes of the period, on a powerful volley from scoring machine Bryshtsel, to go up 2-1. Belarus wanted to put as much distance between themselves and the Germans, as Germany is known to have a potent offensive attack, so the Belarusians added another late goal to go up 3-1 heading into the final period.
Germany knew they had to score and score early to get back into the match, which they did, in the first minute of the final frame to pull within one goal. The Belarus defense clenched down but so did Germany’s and the goals were limited until Germany scored the equalizer just past the midway point in the period and the tension was palpable going into the final minutes with the score tied at 3. The two teams looked for the deciding goal but were unable to find it and the match went into overtime with a score of 3-3. Germany and Belarus took chances in overtime but could not hit the back of the net and the game headed into penalties. The shootout, first of the entire weekend, which turned into a rollercoaster of emotions that ended up giving Belarus the 7th place in the Euro Beach Soccer League.
Goals: 0-1: Thürk, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Bryshtsel, min. 10 (2); 2-1: Bryshtsel, min. 4 (2); 3-1: Savich, min. 2 (2); 3-2: Bullerjahn, min. 11 (3); 3-3: Kniller, min. 5 (3).
Penalties: Bryshtsel: goal; Ulle: goal; Klimchanka: goal; Bullerjahn: goal; Slavutsin: goal; Thürk: goal; Miranovich: miss: Lobsch: saved; Kanstantsinau: goal; Kniller: goal; Ilvin: goal; Biermann: goal: Samsonov: goal; Soko: goal; Savich: goal; Penke: goal; Alesh: goal; Storm: goal; Bryshtsel: goal; Ulle: saved
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE SUPERFINAL TORREDEMBARRA 2014
Sunday 17.08.14
10:15 – Bulgaria 5-4 Estonia (Promotion Final – 7th Place Match)
11:30 – Czech Rep. 6-4 England (Promotion Final – 5th Place Match)
12:45 – Belarus 3(9)- 3(8) Germany (Superfinal – 7th Place Match)
14:00 – Ukraine 2(4)-2(5) Italy (Superfinal- 5th Place Match)
15:15 – Azerbaijan 5-3 Turkey (Promotion Final – 3rd Place Match)
16:30 – Poland 4-6 Hungary (PROMOTION FINAL)
17:45 – Switzerland 2-6 Portugal (Superfinal – 3rd Place Match)
19:00 – Spain 3-4 Russia – (SUPERFINAL)
Final standings
Champions: RUSSIA
Runner-up: Spain
3rd place: Portugal
4th place: Switzerland
Promotion final
Champions: Hungary (promoted to Division A)
Runner-up: Poland (relegated to Division B)
3rd place: Azerbaijan
4th place: Turkey
Individual awards
MVP: Noel Ott (SUI)
Top scorer: Llorenç (ESP) and Peremitin (RUS)
Best Goalkeeper: Jesús Donaire (ESP)
