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World Champions ruin Spanish fiesta and head to season finale against Portugal, as Switzerland will take on Spain for 3rd place
In this winner take all
match between Beach Soccer world powers Russia and Spain teams had their
eyes on being crowned Europe?s´ best team. The two squads were drawn in
the same group, Group A in Division A of the EBSL Superfinal
Torredembarra 2013. Spain and Russia played well enough all weekend to
put themselves in the position of win on Saturday and play in the
Superfinal on Sunday against Portugal.
The first period was just
as one would expect, close and containing some of the best Beach Soccer
you can ask for. With just under 7 minutes left in the opening period
Spain scored to force Russia to fight from behind. In this tournament,
being behind was not something Russia was used to, as their lone loss in
the opening days was in overtime, after leading all of the match, to
Italy. Not a minute passed before Russia struck and tied the game at 1.
After Russia´s first goal they punished a ball that went flying from one
end to other and got behind Spain´s keeper. The one goal lead was not
enough for Russia and they tacked on another goal in the same minute to
go up 3-1. The first period scoring ended there as the game went into
the second with the same score.
Now it was the Spanish sides turn
to play from behind. With a 2 goal deficit to begin the second period,
Spain began taking more calculated attacks and using the entire field
for their passing to set up said attacks. The Russian defense did not
fold though and kept the Spanish passing and offense away from their
goal. Things began to open up but the shots were not finding their mark
and as the period wound down, neither side had conceded another goal and
the period ended with the score 3-1, Russia.
The Spaniards knew
they had work to do as they still found themselves down two to start the
final period. Despite the home-field advantage and energy from the
crowd, the Spanish team could not change their fortune. Into the middle
of the period they were still down 2 goals, 3-1. That changed with seven
minutes left when Juanma struck a direct kick cleanly to get Spain
within one goal at 3-2. The goal breathed new life into Spain as well as
the crowd but it was not to be as Russia added a goal with under a
minute left to double up Spain, 4-2.
Russia played with great
efficiency and stopped Spain from completing a comeback and earned three
points along with a berth in the Superfinal championship match on
Sunday with the 3-2 win. Russia will be playing Portugal for the EBSL
Superfinal title. Spain will be playing Switzerland in the 3rd place
match for the EBSL Division A.
Goals: 0-1: Pajon, min. 6 (1);
1-1: Peremitin, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Gorchinskiy, min. 4 (1); 3-1:
Peremitin, min. 4 (1); 3-2: Juanma, min. 7 (3); 4-2: Eremeev, min. 1
(3).
Switzerland earns 2nd place in Group
Switzerland and Poland were fighting for 2nd and 3rd place in the group and both had the potential to play in the third place match for Division A. Switzerland wanted it just a little more and ended up beating Poland 10-5. Poland stayed close in the opening and scored 2 late goals but could not make a big enough push to get over the early deficit.
The excitement could not have started quicker in this match as Stankovic scored on the opening kick-off to shock the Poles and then just over a minute later the Swiss scored again, putting Poland in an early hole. Poland did not waver and continued with their attacks and game plan and only a minute after Borer´s goal for Swtizerland, they scored, making the score 2-1. Switzerland restored their two goal lead soon after that and scored to go back up 3-1 in the middle of the period. Switzerland added another goal to widen their gap with Poland. The period would end with a score of 4-1, Switzerland.
Every time Poland made a small run and added a goal, Switzerland countered to keep the Poles and arms length away. Poland scored first in the second period to get within 2 goals but Switzerland replied quickly with a goal as well, putting the Swiss back ahead by 3, 5-2. Scoring was sparse the remainder of the period and the period ended with the same score, Switzerland 5 and Poland 2.
The third period began similar to the second period with Poland scoring early to get closer but then Stankovic came back a few seconds later to score his third goal of the match to give his team their 6th goal and keep Poland from inching any closer. To keep from getting worried, Swtizerland added another goal to push the difference to 4 goals, 7-3, Switzerland. As the third period progressed, Switzerland was intent on keeping their stranglehold on Poland but maintaining or increasing their lead. They did the latter and scored a flurry of late goals to separate themselves with a 5 goal difference.
The 10-5 win and three points give Switzerland a total of 6 points for the tournament and it gives them the opportunity to fight for 3rd place, a welcome relief after an opening day loss. The loss for Poland puts them in 3rd place in Group B in Division A and they will be in the 5th place match for Division A.
Goals: 0-1: Stankovic, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Borer, min. 10 (1); 1-2: Saganowski, min. 9 (1); 1-3: Spacca, min. 7 (1); 1-4: Stankovic, min. 2 (1); 2.4: Ziober, min. 7 (2); 2-5: Kaspar, min. 6 (2); 3-5: Saganowski, min. 10 (3); 3-6: Stankovic, min. 9 (3); 3-7: Schrinzi, min. 7 (3); 3-8: Mo, min. 3 (3); 4-8: Baran, min. 1 (3); 4-9: Stankovic, min. 1 (3); 5-9: Piechnik, min. 1 (3); 5-10: Stankovic, min. 1 (3).
Ukraine snags first win
Portugal had already clinched their spot in the Superfinal on Sunday but the Ukraine was looking to earn their first points of the weekend. Ukraine used a systematic offense and tight defense to defeat Portugal 2-1 in the first Division A match of the day. Portugal played well but could not overcome the early deficit that they found themselves in.
Portugal came out swinging but the first goal of the first period came from Ukraine, when their captain, I. Borsuk, drilled a shot from far out to put his team up 1-0. The goalkeepers were both extremely tested in the opening period and when called upon, they both stopped almost every ball directed their way. The defenses stayed in control after the early goal and the period ended with Ukraine still up 1-0, but not before the most extraordinary long-range shot was taken by Portugal and an equally impressive save was made by the Ukrainian keeper.
The second period was another great display of Beach Soccer defense as both teams gave very little breathing room to the other. Ukraine and Portugal both used calculated attacks and passing to try and break down the stifling defense but even when they saw a sliver of an opening, the keepers quickly closed the door to make sure their side wasn?t the next one to give up a goal. Late into the period, the score remained the same, Ukraine holding the Division A Group B champions off the scoreboard. In fact, with 30 seconds left in the period, Ukraine broke through the Portuguese defense again and scored to go ahead 2-0 going into the final period.
In the third period Portugal turned up the heat and were on the prowl for their first goal, the equalizer, and more but early in the period Ukraine refused to give in. Ukraine used tactical moves to try and increase their lead as well but the defenses stood strong. Portugal scored the first goal of the third period with 7 minutes left in the match, making the score 2-1, Ukraine. The goal gave Narciso?s lads hope that they could catch Ukraine and remain unbeaten in the group stage of the tournament. The two goal cushion was enough, though, for the Ukrainians to hold off Portugal and win their first match of the weekend.
Three points, confidence and a place in the Division A 7th place match on Sunday are what Ukraine got after their 2-1 win over Portugal. Portugal did not need the points, having already secured their place in the Superfinal championship on Sunday, but they wanted the win and emotional boost.
Goals: 0-1: I. Borsuk, min. 9 (1); 0-2: Budzko, min. 1 (2); 1-2: Lucio, min. 7 (3).
Italy gets second win of tournament
Italy was looking to climb as high as second in Group A of Division A but Holland wanted to put them in the bottom of the group. The Italians found a way to subdue the Holland side 5-2 with a huge second period, scoring three and allowing zero goals. Holland hung tough in the first period but could not find enough offense to stay with high-powered Italy.
The first period was extremely physical and saw two teams determined to derail the others hope of winning. The Italians were the first to follow through on that plan as they scored early in the period to go up 1-0 on the Dutch. If Holland was laying back before the goal, after the goal they went on a full offensive. The Dutch started creating plenty of chances to score for their side but they could not find the back of the net until there were three minutes left in the period. The Netherlands hit pay dirt when they were given a direct kick on their side of the field and struck the ball extremely well to skid past every Italian on the way to the back of the net. Italy quickly responded and scored again put themselves up 2-1 going into the 2nd period.
The second period started off with a flurry of shots from Italy but no goals until the midway mark of the period when Italy went on a charge and overwhelmed the Dutch defense with players and put themselves ahead by two goals, 3-1. Italy exploited the soft spots in the Dutch defense and scored another two goals, by Gori, giving him a hat trick, and distanced themselves even more from The Netherlands and their dangerous offensive attacks. Italy ended the period with a four goal advantage, 5-1, heading into the final period.
The last leg was one of strategy, as Italy opted to tighten its defense and allow The Netherlands to push and attack, but they did it in hopes of securing their lead and making sure the Dutch couldn?t mount a large comeback. It served its purpose early in the period as neither team scored and Italy maintained their lead, but four minutes into the period Netherlands got the scoring started and brought themselves to within 3 goals, at 5-2. The Netherlands continued to push and were believing in an epic comeback, especially after they were rewarded with a penalty kick in the middle of the period. Understanding the importance of momentum, both sides knew the importance of this penalty, and the Italians came out on top, saving the kick and keeping their three goal lead. Holland and Italy could not manage a last minute goal and three goal difference was enough to name Italy the winner.
The 5-2 win, coupled with Italy´s overtime win over Russia yesterday, gives Italy 5 points for the tournament and in a good position in Group A of Division A. The loss for Holland pits them against Ukraine in the 7th place match in Division A on Sunday.
Goals: 1-0: Corosiniti, min. 8 (1); 1-1: V. Gessel, min. 3 (1); 2-1: Gori, min. 1 (1); 3-1: Marinai, min. 6 (2); 4-1: Gori, min. 5 (2); 5-1: Gori, min. 4 (2); 5-2: Koswal, min. 7 (3).
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE SUPERFINAL TORREDEMBARRA 2013
Match Results:
Saturday, 10th of August, 2013
Portugal 1-2 Ukraine
Italy 5-2 The Netherlands
Poland 5-10 Switzerland
Russia 4-2 Spain
Upcoming Matches:
Sunday, 11th of August, 2013
12:45 ? The Netherlands vs Ukraine (Match for the 7th place)
14:00 ? Italy vs Poland (Match for 5th place)
17:45 ? Spain vs Switzerland (Match for the 3rd place)
19:00 ? Russia vs Portugal (SUPERFINAL)
