Cristian Mendez's team finished the Nazaré event top of the group
- A brace from Maria helps Spain climb to the first place
- Vecchione leads Italy to beat England
- Ukraine achieve their first win
The Nazaré event of the Women’s Euro Beach Soccer League concluded with wins from Spain, Italy and Ukraine.
La Roja take the Iberian derby
With the group lead to play for, Spain and Portugal met in the game that closed Matchday 3 and the Nazaré event of the Women’s Euro Beach Soccer League.
It didn’t take long for La Roja to score the opener, as with just one minute into the game Lorena continued her goalscoring form to put Spain ahead.
The Spanish kept looking to extend their lead, but the second goal would only come in the second period through Maria.
The game went with a scoreboard showing 2-0 into the final 12 minutes and it was captain Andrea Miron who signed Spain’s third. But the Portuguese hit back in the match restart with a strike from the half-line by Cristiana.
But the win wouldn’t escape La Roja and two more goals by Maria and Carol sealed the win and the group lead for Cristian Mendez’s team.
Vecchione’s brace takes Italy back to winning ways
Disputing the higher positions of the table England and Italy faced each other with their eyes on the win.
The Azzurre were the first team to score with a deflection by Buckingham into her own goal three minutes into the game and in the following minute their lead was extended through Naticchioni.
But the English would react immediately as Molly Clark hit the back of the net to put the Lionesses back on the fight and Martin appeared on the far post heading a corner from Kempson to send the match tied into the second period.
Both goalkeepers were in particular form keeping the scoreboard without changes for 24 minutes and as the game was heading to extra time Vecchione replied to a throw-in with an accurate header to put the Italians leading with one minute to go.
But in the dying moments of the game Ruotolo commited a penalty. Kempson stepped up to take it but the Italian goalkeeper redeemed herself saving the shot and securing the three points for Del Duca’s team.
Ukraine cruise past Czech Republic
Still looking for their first win in the competition, Ukraine and Czech Republic stepped on the sand for the game that kicked-off Matchday 3.
The deadlock was broken by Vypasniak five minutes into the first period with the Ukrainian international reacting quicker to the rebound to give her team the lead.
With a direct corner-kick, Dekhtiar made it 2-0 for Klymenko’s team in the second period.
The third goal came in the final period signed by Kostiuk who dived to head a cross from Klipachenko and it would be Dekhtiar’s second goal to set the final result in 4-0 for Ukraine.
In the awards ceremony Joana Flores was considered the MVP of the event, Angela Ruotolo was the best goalkeeper, while Lorena and Vecchione shared the top goalscorer award.
For full details on the Women’s Euro Beach Soccer League 2022, including fixtures, results and standings, head to beachsoccer.com.
