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UAE and Russia achieve convincing victories, whereas Brazil and Switzerland need to suffer a bit for the points
Hard-fought victory gets Switzerland first points
Switzerland collected the first three points in the opening of this Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup 2011. A tight one goal difference beat the Mexican resistance to get the Alpine on the privileged places of group B.
The Swiss took the leading role quite early in the match, getting Mexico to lean back and protect their goal. Not too bad for Ramon Raya’s side, as they have proven to be one of the best teams in the world when it comes to defensive parcels. And they proved why, since although being Switzerland with the ball on their feet most of the time, Robles was never into real danger during first stages. It was not until the tenth minute that Meier would get tripped inside the box for a penalty kick. Number 10 would not miss the chance to sweep his side ahead to end this first period in command of the match.
Right after the break, Stankovic set clear that these sands fit him terrifically well, and, with a brilliant bicycle kick, he would make it 2-0. The goal just switched the Mexican spirit on, though, understanding that the time has come to look for something else, and it was Hugo López the one to fire a free kick in to shorten the advantage. The match had changed its script, and it was now the green outfitted the ones to look for the opposite net. But the first feedback they found after it was not as sweet as they would longed for, as Lutz tapped a corner kick strategy move in for the 3-1.
Third period was an equalized fight, with the Azteca seeking for the equalizer, and the Swiss awaiting for their chance to do harm through a lethal counterattack. With little more than two minutes for the final horn, Meier widened the Alpine advantage, only to see how Cervantes cut it down twice. But the final 3-4 for the Mexicans came with just 6 seconds to go, and the points did not flew away from Schirinzi’s team’s hands.
Goals: 0-1: Meier (p), min. 2 (1); 0-2: Stankovic, min. 11 (2); 1-2: H. López, min. 10 (2); 1-3: Lutz, min. 4 (2); 1-4: Meier, min. 2 (3); 2-4: Cervantes, min. 1 (3); 3-4: Cervantes, min 0 (3)
Russia keeps as terrifying as ever…
Russia has not stepped down a bit in the unreachable pace that made them European Champions and World Cup Champions this last summer. In their debut match in this Samsung Beach Soccer intercontinental Cup, they gave little chance to one of the kings in Africa, Nigeria to place themselves on top on group A.
Right from the first period, the Beach Green Egles knew that it was not to be a smooth and easy evening for them. Shaykov and Gorchinskiy pulled the score 2-0 for Likhachev’s side in the opening minutes and, although Tale wisely took advantage of a misunderstanding between Filimonov and his defence, Eremeev made it 3-1 in the very following seconds.
Russia did not miss today two of their best players, captain Leonov and goalkeeper Bukhlitskiy, who could not reach the match in time after being honoured by the Russian FA after their brilliant performance in the last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011, played in Ravenna (Italy), were they raised the MVP and Best Goalkeeper awards. The remaining powder was far powerful enough, and the balls began hitting the Russian net to a loud final 8-1 that sets the beat for whoever may try to bend the World Champions in Dubai…
Goals: Shaykov, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Gorchinskiy, min. 9 (1); 1-2: Tale, min. 9 (1); 1-3: Eremeev, min. 8 (1); 4-1 Makarov, min. 5 (2); 5-1: Eremeev, min. 2 (2); 6-1: Peremitin, min. 4 (3); 7-1: Eremeev, min. 3 (3); 8-1: Krash, ,min. 3 (3)
Late awakening by new Guga’s Bazil (5-2)
Guga Zloccowick did not have an easy debut as the new Brazilian coach, and the game against Oman turned to be far more difficult that what everyone could have expected. Indeed it was the Asian side the one to step ahead in the score, thanks to Hani’s hit. That opening goal surprised not only the Brazilian team themselves, but the people on the stands, who came here waiting to see the rebirth of the traditional sand rulers. Definitely, it was not to be that easy for new Guga’s Verdeamarela…
The tight defense by the spirited Omani rearguard and the posts made things impossible for Brazil, who crushed up to three balls against the yellow wood in the first stages of the game, being specially regrettable the bicycle kick attempts by Andre and Fernando DDI. Only Betinho, with a halfway-line rocket, could finally find the way to Abdullah’s net, to open a comeback Sidney would turn into real straight afterwards.
Having managed to keep their advantage almost half of the game and seeing the score turn around in just a fistful of seconds disconcerted the Asian side, which could not help the pentacampeão taking control of the game and finalizing it by means of two whip shots by Bruno Xavier and a third one by Andre. Latter hit by Hani could not make the difference, leaving things 5-2 for Brazil.
Goals: 0-1: Hani, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Betinho, min. 3 (2); 2-1: Sidney, min. 3 (2); 3-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 10 (3); 4-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 6 (3); 5-1: Andre, min. 1 (3); 5-2: Hani, min. 0 (3);
UAE take firm stand in Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup opening
The UAE opened this Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup they are hosting with a satisfying victory over Tahiti, one of the sweet surprises of the last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Precisely as the National coach Marcelo Mendes has said last week, the Arabian began today showing that getting outside the Ravenna festival was a mere accident. The team wanted to get even with that bad memory and they found the perfect victim in Tahiti today, achieving an uncontestable win.
Although the opener lasted a while to come to the Beach Stadium at the Jumeira Beach Residence, in just two minutes, the hosts opened a comfortable gap with three hits by Ahmad, Rami and Yousif, and only Bennet’s goal in the last breath, prevented the first period to end in a favourable 3-0 for UAE.
Mendes’ side would not let their advantage get shorter than that, and Ahmad again, and Adel, after Vero’s 4-2, would set things ready to enjoy the victory in the third period, with captain Rami completing this successful first chapter for the hosts.
Goals: 1-0: R. Ahmad, min. 2 (1); 2-0: Rami, min. 1 (1); 3-0: Yousif, min. 0 (1); 3-1: Naea Bennet, min. 0 (1); 4-1: R. Ahmad, min. 11 (2); 4-2: Vero, min. 11 (2); 5-2: Adel, min. 9 (2); 6-2: Rami, min. 5 (3);
Results today
Tuesday, November 22nd
16:30 – Mexico 3-4 Switzerland
17.45 – Russia 8-1 Tahiti
19:00 – Brazil 5-2 Oman
20:15 – UAE 6-2 Tahiti
Matches for tomorrow:
Wednesday, November 23rd
16:30 – Oman vs. Switzerland
17.45 – Russia vs. Tahiti
19:00 – Brazil vs. Mexico
20:15 – Nigeria vs. UAE
