Russia reedit InterCup glory!

The defending champions retain the crown following a narrow last-minute win over BSC Kristall

Russia claimed back to back InterCup thrones after a nail-biting final against BSC Kristall. Likhachev’s side scarped with a narrow 3-4 win after a terribly hard-fought game in which the final period passed sentence. 

Just as the last game of the regular phase stage showed, the game was to be an absolutely balanced fight, and only slight details would unbalanced it. Russia owned the first period, opening the score through goalscorer Fedor Zemskov and keeping his goal untouched for the remainder of the leg. 

But in the second period, Kristall equalized, thanks to their man under the sticks, Alexander Besedin (awarded as best goalkeeper of the event), and the game cruised into the last frame with things tied at one. 

The electric third period saw Russia seize the win only 30 seconds before the final whistle, in a period in which Kristall got in command on two occasions! The two-times world champions showed great nerve in the last minutes and turned score around thanks to Makarov and Nikonorov, thus clinching the InterCup Beach Soccer Saint Petersburg for the second consecutive time. 

Lokomotiv snatch bronze

A new solid performance had the Muscovite clinching the third place in Saint Petersburg, following a 1-3 win over Saratov side FC Delta. After a terribly balanced first period, which ended with things one apiece, “look” knew to make the most of their chances to grab a great victory that gets them the last place in the podium. 

Results today:

10:00 – CSKA 2-4 Krylia Sovetov (7th place)

11:15 – Belarus 4-3 Lex (5th place)

12:30 – Delta 1-3 Lokomotiv (3rd place)

14:00 – Kristall 3-4 Russia (FINAL)

Final Standings:

Champions: Russia

Runners-up: BSC Kristall

3rd place: BSC Lokomotiv

4th place: FC Delta

5th place: Belarus

Individual awards:

MVP: Mamadiev (Lokomotiv)

Top Soccer: Zemskov (Russia), Bryshtel (Kristall) and Gapon (Belarus)

Best Goalkeeper: Sasha Besedin (Kristall)

For complete results, standings and stats, click here.