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Germany, Azerbaijan, Poland and Ukraine get trhough to the second group phase, too. Remaining teams to wait for tomorrow…
Austria throws Group F wide-open with comeback win
The 7-5 victory for Austria over Romania was a minor upset and creates a log jam at the top of the group as every team, except Hungary has a win and three points and Hungary’s match could mean that all the teams have three points. Romania began the match on fire and jumped to an early lead and maintained that lead throughout nearly the entire match, until the third period, when Austria got over the hump, after staying within one or two goals the entire time. The win for Austria means their game on Tuesday against Hungary will mean even more. Romania will next face Poland on Tuesday, which will have the kind of ramifications.
Much more was asked of the Austrian keeper in the early going and for the most part Stummer responded, save for a strike from Maci that put Romania up 1-0. Austria made a reply with a goal of their own from Abraham to even the score at 1. The Romanians did not let the tie brew for long as they scored their second on the day with a low blast to go back up by 1 at 2-1.The balls just began flying from end to end as the period wound down, but the score remained the same, with Romania up 2-1. Goals began pouring down and it was not from a lack of defense but more from superb strikes as Romania netted the ball twice to the one goal for the Wunderteam, all in the opening three minutes of the middle period. Heading into the middle of the frame the score sat at 4-2 for the Tricolorii. Austria was not daunted by the slight deficit and chugged away until they found the goal that brought them to within one, but the Romanians were not comfortable for such a slim lead and they scored again, this time from Raj, to restore their two goal lead at 5-3. Just before time expired in the period, Abraham scored his third of the match for Austria to make the score 5-4 in favour of Romania going into the final period.
The tension was evident from the first kick in the final period and it continued to build with each pass and shot that did not result in a score. The match hung in the balance and matters became even more clouded as Austria scored again, the second from Bruckner, to level the score at 5 heading into the final minutes of the period. Romania got some great looks at goal but could not get past the Austrian keeper, Stummer. The third straight unanswered goal for Austria came late in the period and from Hakim, and it gave the Wunderteam their first lead of the match at 6-5. Austria wanted more than anything to pull off the upset and they scored the much needed late insurance goal from Gahleitner to put the score at 7-5, which is how the game would end.
Goals: 1-0: Maci, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Abraham, min. 8 (1); 2-1: Boata, min. 5 (1); 3-1: Maci, min. 11 (2); 3-2: Abraham, min. 10 (2); 4-2: I. Poste, min. 8 (2); 4-3: Bruckner, min. 3 (2); 5-3: Raj, min. 2 (2); 5-4: Abraham, min. 0 (2); 5-5: Bruckner, min. 8 (3); 5-6: Hakim, min. 4 (3); 5-7: Gahleitner, min. 2 (3).
Germany cruises and looks toward showdown with Ukraine
The 5-1 victory over Latvia for Germany was a thumping match that saw the favourites do what they had to, score and win. The Germans scored first and early and kept their foot on the pedal. Latvia struck in the final frame to ignite hopes of a large, however improbable, comeback, but Germany finished the match off with more late goals. The win keeps German on track to win the group, with a win over Ukraine on Tuesday, however they already clinched a spot in the Group Phase II stage, set to begin on Wednesday. Latvia will search for their first win on Tuesday against Norway.
The Germans started quick by scoring on a wonderful overhead by Weirauch and then proceeded to crank up the pressure on Latvia. The pressure paid off with another goal, this time from Kniller, at the halfway point of the opening frame, putting the Germans up 2-0. Latvia did well to limit the German chances and push their own attack, however they were not rewarded for the efforts in the first period, and the period would end with Germany up 2-0. The Izlase saw their opportunities grow and get better and better but the shots did not fall and the score remained the same going into the middle of the period. The Germans could have extended their lead on any number of good opportunities but Latvia held strong going into the final minutes of the period. Germany did break through again, in the waning minutes of the second period, on a blast, the second of the day for Weirauch, to go up 3-0 into the final break.
Latvia knew that they needed at least two goals to get back into contention, but Germany had different intentions and scored another goal on a bicycle from Ollie, in the opening minute of the last period, to put the Germans up 4-0. Latvia found their offensive voice in the form of a goal by Vasiljevs, to get back to within three goals but Thürk responded for Die Mannschaft to go back up by four and put the score at 5-1 going into the final minutes of the match. Germany did not hold back despite holding the big and late lead. However Latvia did not let the Germans get through. In turn, they started many counterattacks, which were not successful either, and the match ended with Germany up 5-1.
Goals: 1-0: Weirauch, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Kniller, min. 6 (1); 3-0: Weirauch, min. 2 (2); 4-0: Olli, min. 11 (3); 4-1: Vasiljevs, min. 10 (3); 5-1: Thürk, min. 6 (3).
Azerbaijan uses late rally to earn their second win and advance
The 4-3 victory for Azerbaijan over Bulgaria was feisty match that was contested from start to finish. Bulgaria was looking for their first win all the while Azerbaijan needed a win to earn their 4th, 5th, and 6th points en route to their second victory. The win for Azerbaijan put them into the next stage, while Bulgaria left Jesolo without a win. Azerbaijan will next play on Wednesday in the Group Phase II stage, while Bulgaria leaves Jesolo without a win despite being very competitive in all of their matches.
In need of a victory to secure their advancement to the next round, Azerbaijan began the match by getting a feel for how the Bulgarians would defend and attack. This tactic lent itself to a flimsy defense and Bulgaria made the most of it by using their goal specialist, Filipov, to break the deadlock. The one goal advantage turned into two very quickly when Velikov slid a shot in from the corner and the goal put the Lions up 2-0 at the first break. Azerbaijan weathered the early storm from the Bulgarians and found the back of the net after the midway point in the match on a rocket from Hikmat and the rest of the period was played to a draw, with Bulgaria holding onto a one goal lead at 2-1, going into the final and deciding third period.
All it took was the opening restart for the Azerbaijani to take back control of the match and less than a minute after that, they scored again to take their first lead of the match at 3-2. The Azerbaijan defense continued its stifling pressure as they had not allowed a goal since the first period. Bulgaria’s luck had seemed to change, for the worse. In the first period all their kicks seemed to be doing what they wanted to and hitting target, but as the game progressed, their shots were not falling despite wide open nets and cracks in the Azerbaijan defense. Azerbaijan was able to hold on for the 4-3 win.
Goals: 0-1: Filipov, min. 3 (1); 0-2: Velikov, min. 1 (1); 1-2: Hikmat, min. 4 (2); 2-2: Sabir, min. 11 (3); 3-2: Amid, min. 10 (3).
Poland snags spot in next round with victory over Hungary
Poland’s 3-2 win over Hungary was a rematch of the Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final, which relegated Poland to Division B for the 2015 season and promoted Hungary from Division B to Division A and put them into the first ever European Olympic Games in Baku in 2015. The rivalry was already born but was fresh in everyone’s mind. The game was played with very few mistakes and the White and Reds scored first but the Hungarian responded with two answered goals and held a vice-like grip on the one goal lead. Poland finally broke through and avenged their Promotion Final loss.
Poland had a vendetta to settle with Hungary and they took the first step in the opening minutes of the game as they took the 1-0 lead thanks to a long distance rocket from their living legend, Saganowski. Not wanting to fall any further behind, Fekete, of Hungary, took his own shot on goal and connected to tie matters at 1. The middle period was played at a million miles an hour with both sides exchanging shots on goal and excellent chances but going into the final minutes of frame, there had been no more goals. For all of the great runs that went unfulfilled, there was a great strike from the Hungarian captain, Ughy, that defied physics as he took no wind up and was leaning backwards, yet somehow generated so much power that the Polish keeper did not move and could not react as the ball blew past him and put the score at 2-1 for the Golden Team going into the most important period, the last one.
The Polish side were taking their chances and opening up their offense in the final frame but nothing came of it, until the final minutes when Taraszkowski scored the equalizer on a great rebound to level things at 2. Poland looked more and more comfortable as they were playing loose and having fun and it showed when Ziober scored to give the Polish squad the lead again, this time at 3-2. The late lead seemed to break the spirits of the Hungarian side as they could not mount many more quality attacks. When the final whistle blew, Poland had their revenge, threw the ball high in the air with a sign of relief, and got the 3-2 win, leaving Hungary at the verge of elimination in Jesolo.
Goals: 1-0: Saganowski, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Fekete, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Ughy, min. 3 (2); 2-2: Taraszkowski, min. 4 (3); 3-2: Ziober, min. 2 (3).
Spain finishes group stage undefeated and on high note
Spain’s 10-0 victory over the Czech Republic leaves them alone at the top of the group and has them poised for a deep run and hopefully a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification. Spain showed no mercy and began the scoring without even thinking about it and then playing non-stop from start to finish despite the large lead. The Czech Republic finished the group with one win and three points and may still be able to qualify for the final 16 teams and the Group Phase II depending on the outcomes of the other matches, they can only qualify as one of the best 3rd place teams.
Spain came out firing and it seemed as though they were going to score on a great chance in the first 10 seconds, but the shot and subsequent rebound were saved, however Llorenç made sure that the next attempt would score and it would not be long after the first misfiring. Sure enough it came only seconds later, still in the first minute, but another minute later Llorenç scored his second to put Spain up 2-0 in the opening minutes. The scoring came to a halt until the final minutes when Spain added two more goals, including the third for Llorenç to go up 4-0 into the middle period. The Spanish juggernaut could not be stopped and scored three more early second period goals, another from Llorenç, to go up 7-0, nearing the final minutes of the period.
Spain wanted to add to their lead and prove their toughness and edge, but the Czech Republic finally settled into good defensive form and although they were down big, you could not tell from their body language as they still looked determined as ever, and were still attacking and playing with reckless abandon. Llorenç scored his fifth goal nearing the midway point in the period to extend the lead for La Roja to 8. The Spanish were not finished yet and Ezequiel scored his second of the match to make the score 9-0. Teams cannot stop Llorenç, they can only hope to contain him, especially after his 6th goal of the match, putting the game at 10-0, which is how the match would end.
Goals: 1-0: Llorenç, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Llorenç, min. 10 (1); 3-0: Chyki, min. 5 (1); 4-0: Llorenç, min. 3 (1); 5-0: Chyki, min. 11 (2); 6-0: Ezequiel, min. 7 (2); 7-0: Llorenç, min. 7 (2); 8-0: Llorenç, min. 7 (3); 9-0: Ezequiel, min. 6 (3); 10-0: Llorenç, min. 1 (3).
Ukraine’s offense leads attack in win over Norway
The 7-1 victory for Ukraine over Norway was very thorough and had all the makings of a team ready to take the group and advance to the World Cup. Ukraine pushed Norway to the brink every step of the way and did not allow them to feel comfortable defensively or offensively. Ukraine held a shut-out for most of the match before giving up a late goal, when the match was no longer in doubt. Ukraine has six points and two wins now, as does Germany, whom they will face on Tuesday in their final group stage match, to determine first and second in Group E. Both teams have already qualified for the next stage. Norway has yet to win but will have the opportunity on Tuesday, against Latvia, who is also searching for their first points.
The scoreboard first lit up for Ukraine on a direct kick from Korniichuk but Norway did not let the early disappointment rattle them as they forced the Blue and Yellows into a silly mistake but unfortunately for the Norwegians, they couldn’t capitalize. Norway used creative turns and shots to get open looks at the net but the goals did not follow and at the end of the period Ukraine was up by 3 at 3-0. The first minutes of the middle frame were played very evenly with both sides taking shots, making saves, and nearly scoring on multiple occasions. The Ukrainians struck first using the second goal of the day for Medvid, to push the lead to 4-0.
Ukraine wasted no time in the third period to extend their lead and assert themselves over Norway. The Ukrainians left themselves open at the back end quite a few times but the goalkeeping was great and the Norwegians could not take advantage. The two early goals in the period came from Ukraine on a looping heading and a weak back pass that Ukraine pounced on. Going into the final minutes, the lead was 7-0 for the Blue and Yellows. Norway did not allow a donut to stay on the scoreboard and netted a late goal to put the final score at 7-1.
Goals: 1-0: Korniichuk, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Budzko, min. 8 (1); 3-0: Medvid, min. 3 (1); 4-0: Medvid, min. 3 (2); 5-0: Sydorenko, min. 1 (2); 6-0: Zborovskyi, min. 10 (3); 7-0: Borsuk I., min. 9 (3); 7-1: Jacobsen, min. 3 (3).
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2015 – EUROPE QUALIFIER JESOLO-ITALY
Results today:
Monday 08.09.14
11:30 – Romania 5-7 Austria (Group F)
12:45 – Germany 5-1 Latvia (Group E)
14:00 – Azerbaijan 3-2 Bulgaria (Group C)
15:15 – Poland 3-2 Hungary (Group F)
16:30 – Spain 10-0 Czech Republic (Group C)
17:45 – Ukraine 7-1 Norway (Group E)
Matches for tomorrow:
Tuesday 09.09.14
11:30 – Estonia vs. Slovakia (Group D)
12:45 – Hungary vs. Austria (Group F)
14:00 – Norway vs. Latvia (Group E)
15:15 – Poland vs. Romania (Group F)
16:30 – Switzerland vs. France (Group D)
17:45 – Ukraine vs. Germany (Group E)
