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Day 2 in Recife was chock full of amazing goals, plenty of saves, and come from behind victories for Uruguay and Paraguay over Bolivia and Argentina
Uruguay spoils Bolivian international debut
The 5-3 win for Uruguay over Bolivia kickstarted a spectacular day of beach soccer in Recife. The Uruguay side was playing a feisty and non battle hardened Bolivia, as it was their first international competitive match. La Celeste were down nearly the entire match, but they always were within striking distance, staying one or two goals down until the final minutes of the match, when they took their first lead and added another late goal to ensure their late game drama helped seal the victory. Up next for Uruguay is Paraguay on Tuesday, while Bolivia gets an even tougher test against the hosts Brazil on Tuesday.
Bolivia started their beach soccer journey with a spectacular opening frame as they scored the matches’first goal and when it seemed as though Uruguay were ready to turn up the intensity, the Bolivians responded again, taking a 2-1 lead into the final minutes of the frame. The opening minutes had the three goal outburst but then defense took over and the scoring slowed as the first twelve minutes ended with Bolivia up 2-1. La Celeste were not ready to give the match to the Bolivians and began the middle frame with sending shots goal ward but La Verde stopped them and the heart of the period approached with the score sitting the same, at 2-1 for Bolivia. Portales, the Bolivian goal stopper was much more active and did will to stop everything he did but he was beat again, this time in the closing minutes of the frame as Matias scored for Los Charruas making the score 2-2 going into the third and final period.
La Garra Celeste had yet to be in the lead for the entire match and early on in the last period, they found themselves in another hole, after ceding a third goal, the second from Melgar, making the score 3-2 for the newcomers. Going into the middle of the period the energy cranked up as a header from Uruguay was disallowed, but mere seconds later, the Uruguayans found the tying goal on a great turn-around strike from Maxi. The rally was not complete however and Uruguay kept possession for long periods of time and in the oppositions’half of the field. The style of play started to wear down the Bolivians and Uruguay netted two late goals to complete their comeback and get the 5-3 win.
Goals: 0-1: Melgar, min. 10 (1); 1-1: Ricar, min. 7 (1); 1-2: Pedro, min. 6 (1); 2-2: Matias, min. 2 (2); 2-3: Melgar, min. 10 (3); 3-3: Maxi, min. 6 (3); 4-3: Ricar, min. 2 (3); 5-3: Pablo, min. 1 (3).
Paraguay stays steady and uses big 3rd for win
The 7-4 win for Paraguay over Argentina did not come into focus until late in the final period when Paraguay turned on the after burners and pulled away. Argentina started fast and took the early leads but the steady Paraguayan side systematically went up and down the pitch, not panicking, getting the early tournament victory. The match had end to end action and included at least three highlight goals that will not be soon forgotten. The loss was a tough one to swallow for Argentina but they will have the chance to regroup on Tuesday when they face Chile. Paraguay will not need any extra motivation as they face Uruguay on Tuesday. The win allows the Paraguayan side to keep pace with fellow first match winners, Brazil and Uruguay.
Argentina did not want to be victim of an upset or even want to face a deficit and their determination showed in the opening minutes, as they scored the first goal of the match just over two minutes in, and that was after they missed a golden opportunity on the opening possession. A stunning effort from Paraguay got them the equalizer late in the period and the first 12 minutes ended tied at 1. The two squads traded barbs in the second period, but the strikes did not fall until Los Gauchos turned a defensive stop into a quick goal, restoring their one goal advantage. The 2-1 score stood as the teams went into the middle of the match, both looking to break things open. The Argentine Selection needed four shots in the span of four seconds to score the next goal, as Paraguay brilliantly saved the first three shots but were not so lucky on the last rebound. La Albirroja saw their strikes narrowly miss and even hit the goal posts but their efforts proved fruitful as they hit an audacious highlight reel shot from S. Amarilla to put the score at 3-2 for Argentina. Paraguay continued their comeback attempt on another top play worthy strike, this one on an unbelievable bicycle kick to get things level at 3 going into the final period.
The Paraguayan momentum carried over into the final period as they flipped the script and took their first lead of the day, at 4-3. If Argentina had been playing safe before, the fourth goal for The White and Red awakened the Argentinians and they immediately went on the offensive, but could not initially score. The tables turned again as Paraguay withstood the attacks and then countered with another goal, pushing their lead to two goals at 5-3. Paraguay tacked on another great goal, this time using great passing and vision to put things just out of reach for Argentina at 6-3, late in the game. A great scissor kick from Argentina got them one goal closer but Pereira of Paraguay slammed the door shut when he knocked in his second goal of the match and the game ended with Paraguay up 7-4.
Goals: 1-0: Levi, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Rodriguez, min. 3 (1); 2-1: Sirico, min. 8 (2); 3-1: Levi, min. 5 (2); 3-2: S. Amarilla, min. 2 (2); 3-3: Pereira, min. 1 (2); 3-4: Rolon, min. 10 (3); 3-5: Flores, min. 7 (3); 3-6: Rodriguez, min. 3 (3); 4-6: De Ezeyza, min. 0 (3); 4-7: Pereira, min. 0 (3).
COPA SUDAMERICANA BEACH SOCCER RECIFE 2015
Match results:
Monday, February 2nd, 2015
14:15 – Uruguay 5-3 Bolivia
15:30 – Argentina 4-7 Paraguay
Upcoming matches:
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
13:00 – Paraguay vs. Uruguay
14:15 – Argentina vs. Chile
15:30 – Bolivia vs. Brazil
