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Alpines beat Italy to end as winnerd of this third EBSL stage andsecure their place in Moscow. France will be there, too.
Switzerland raised the Cup of this Euro Beach Soccer League – Ravenna 2011, after bending hosts Italy in a hard fought last game, tightly unbalanced thanks to the goals by Rodrigues and Leu. With the points achieved so far, the Alpines find themselves mathematically in the Super Final, whereas Italy, with nine points is almost virtually in Moscow, too.
Although the Italians needed a wide victory to have the chance to keep the Cup at home due to their heavy defeat yesterday, the Azzurri were set to go for it. Switzerland, in turn, though in taking the opportunity of already securing their place to fight for the European throne, without needing to fear any miracle by Poland in the last stage in The Hague. Both teams felt the highest of respects towards their opponent and preferred not to get too uncovered during the first stages.
It was not until the 8th minute of the second leg that Rodrigues invented an unforgettable overhead kick to blast the ball at the back of the Italian nets. The best goalkeeper of the tournament, Italian Simone Del Mestre, could do nothing to prevent the ball in as the missile by Swiss number 5 was unstoppable. The match changed at that moment. Being already down in the score, hosts could do nothing but going into attack and try to change the course of things. They put Valentin’s goal under their crosshair, but nothing worked for them. Instead, Leu found the way to Del Mestre’s nets with a powerful free kick to make it 0-2.
There were just 4 minutes left, and the Alpine side would not take any risk. They made a couple of steps backwards and closed lines tight wight Valentin, leaving Italy no chance to react and seizing the Cup.
Goals: 0-1: Rodrigues, min. 2 (2); 0-2: Leu, min. 4 (3)
France to fight for top-flight place!
France will have the chance to get their Division A back in next month’s Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final. Les Bleus secured that opportunity after edging Azerbaijan in a match that, although seemingly under control, could have ended up dramatically for François’ team, as just some centimeters left the Azeri ball apart from the French goal line in the last minute, when the result was 3-2. But the ball did not reach Ruiz’s nets, and Edouard managed the final 4-2 in a smart header, tricking Vagif completely.
A first header by Basquaise put France on the road to Moscow in the beginning of the first period, and the French seemed to have enough with that little advantage. Elvin, with the first of his two goals, showed them they were fully mistaken, achieving the equalizer in exactly the same minute of the second period. Edouard came to the rescue, catching a refusal by the Azeri goalkeeper to sweep his team ahead again, this time, for good. Soares widened the distance with a great header for the 3-1 before that second period was over.
That advantage became even more comfortable after seeing that Azerbaijan were kind of afraid to go all forth looking to do harm, and it was only in a free kick conceded by goalkeeper Ruiz that they could cut the distance. Almost without having done any merits to it, Hatamov’s team was just one goal down, and they could even caused Les Bleus a major upset if that last ball had found the other side of the line. But, as stated, it did not, and France will be one of the big names next month in Moscow.
Goals: 1-0: Basquaise, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Elvin, min. 8 (2); 2-1: Edouard, min. 6 (2); 3-1: Soares, min. 1 (2); 3-2: Elvin, min. 0 (3); 4-2: Elvin, min. 0 (3)
Unbelievable come back by Romania gets them virtually in Superfinal
An amazing comeback by Romania against Poland boosted Maci’s side into the Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal. In this third stage of the European League, the Romanian turned a really unfavourable 0-3 into a 4-3 in the last stage of their last game in the regular phase to clinch their ninth points. Now, they place themselves among these teams that may get into this year’s Super Final, and only mathematics after the last stage in The Hage (July 29th – 31st)and an outstanding performance by Poland in Dutch soil could leave them out.
Things began in a really harsh way for the Carpathians, as Saganowski and Golebowskimade it really uphill for them with a 0-3 in the first period. But, just as the Romanian’s did last season when they seemed out of the race against Spain, an unveliebable come-back, finished in the last seconds, made them virtually a Super Final contender. Today, against Poland, two goals by M. Poste and another one by Tanase left the score 3-3 by mid last leg.
Maybe the hardest part of the way was already done, and the dynamics of the game seemed to point for a dramatic last minutes. Although maybe the Romanians were the ones to try it more determinedly, Poland had their chances too. Effectively, the ending was absolutely exciting, with Croi sending a long-range attempt right into Polish goalmouth, making his team put one feet and a half in Moscow.
Goals: 0-1: Saganowski, min. 5 (1); Golebowski, min. 1 (1); 0-3: Golebowski, min. 0 (1); 1-3: M. Poste, min. 11 (3); 3-2: Tanase, min. 7 (3); 3-3: M. Poste, min. 6 (3); 4-4: Croi, min. 0 (3)
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE – RAVENNA 2011
Game results:
Friday, July 22nd
France 1(1) – 1(0) Belarus
Switzerland 9 – 4 Romania
Italy 2 – 1 Poland
Saturday, July 23rd
15:30 – Azerbaijan 1 – 6 Belarus
16:45 – Switzerland 7 – 6 Poland
18:00 – Italy 2 – 5 Romania
Sunday, July 24th
15:30 –France 4 – 2 Azerbaijan
16:45 – Romania 4 – 3 Poland
18:00 – Italy 0 – 2 Switzerland
Final standigs:
DIVISION A
1st – Switzerland
runner-ups – Romania
3rd – Italy
DIVISION B
winner – France
Individual awards
Best Goalkeeper: Simone Del Mestre
Top Scorer: Saganowski (POL) – 5 goals
MVP: Maci (ROM)
