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The Swiss become the champions of the stage due to a better goal-average, as Azzurri secure berth in Superfinal, too
Ott commands Switzerland to championship
Noel Ott brought on a terrific performance today, with six goals and many brilliant moves, to lead Switzerland to a loud win over Poland. These three points mean the Swiss become the best team not only in group 2 of the Euro Beach Soccer League Catania 2014, but of the whole event, at the time that earns Schirinzi’s side a place in the EBSL Superfinal of next August.
Switzerland’s objective was made very clear rather soon. By the hand of Leu, Lutz and Ott, the Alpine left the score 4-0 by the end of first period, and kept on striking at the beginning of the second, leaving the score already 6-0. Just for a moment, it seemed that Poland had had enough of that, and their reaction began, with two goals in just a matter of minutes. It looked like the beginning of something for the Polish but the Swiss hero of the day, Noel Ott, came along to cut Poland’s wings with the 7-2 that helped the Alpine get hold of the game’s control once again.
The Swiss feast went on and on in the third half, with four more goals (Stankovic, Spacca and Ott x2) that sealed the win and had the Alpine cruising to the first title of the season, and, of course, the ticket to the season finale. The final whistle ended the nightmare for Poland, who will need all the support from their fans next week to overcome this heavy stroke and fight for a place in the Superfinal or, at least, avoid the Promotion Final.
Goals: 1-0: Leu, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Ott, min. 8 (1); 3-0: Lutz, min. 2 (1); 4-0: Ott, min. 2 (1); 5-0: Ott, min. 9 (2); 6-0: Lutz, min. 8 (2); 6-1: Saganowski, min. 7 (2); 6-2: Widzicki, min. 5 (2); 7-2: Ott, min. 1 (2); 8-2: Stankovic, min. 11 (3); 9-2: Ott, min. 9 (3); 10-2: Spacca, min. 4 (3); 10-3: Friszkemut, min. 3 (3); 11-3: Ott, min. 2 (3);
Last breath winner gives Italy head of group 1
Italy set up a brilliant closure to this Euro Beach Soccer League Catania 2014, with Marrucci slotting over the hooter the winner for the Azzurri over defending champions and world kings Russia. With this last-breath win, the hosts secured not only the ticket to the EBSL Superfinal, to be held in Torredembarra mid August, but also the head of Group 1 in this stage. Only the better records by Switzerland in the other group prevented Esposito’s side to lift the Cup awarded to the best team in Catania in front of their own crowd.
Facing the wounded lion was not the best scenario to try and earn a ticket to the season finale, but Italy proved extremely solid and self confident right from the moment they arrived in the stadium. Closing their defense like big champions do, and looking for any crack on their opponents rearguard, Italy demanded Russia the best versions of themselves if they wanted to take Moscow the head of the group.
The match was fiercely balanced, with no player conceding a single centimeter, a single split second for their opponent to breath or even think. Goalies kept their nets safe for more than two periods, and it was not until the seventh minute of the game that Corosiniti swept the hosts ahead. The joy for the Azzurri and their crowd lasted not even a second, as Shishin, in the very next move, balanced the score: Russia was ready for the fight.
Seconds were ticking down, progressively making any eventual goal the group’s decider. But it seemed that goal would not come, despite chances fell at both ends. With everyone thinking on extra time and only five seconds left, Marrucci dribbled past his defender and his shot hit the post to stop right over the goal line. The Russian defense reached it first and refused the danger but the ball, like bewitched, flew straight back to the Italian number three, who volleyed it home for the winner right over the horn, lighting the party in the stands. With the final whistle, Italy secures berth in Torredembarra, and the defending champions will need to fight their way in at the EBSL stage they will be hosting in Moscow in less than one month.
Goals: 0-1: Corosiniti, min. 4 (3); 1-1: Shishin, min. 4 (3); 1-2: Marrucci, min. 0 (3);
France bags first points in the season
France did not want to be thrown again to the fight against relegation like last season and began their escape from the lower part of the table with a hard-fought win over Netherlands. Combating ghosts from the past, Samoun built a consistent lead for Les Bleus, with one hit by the end of first leg and another one at beginning of the second.
Netherlands, who just yesterday had bent the defending European and World champions, Russia, did not want that big achievement go to waste that early, and fought back to level the score. A wonderful overhead kick by Fong and a free kick by Kaleveld had the job done for the Orange midway third period, but France were not to let their opponents command the game, and Bru immediately replied to get the French ahead once again.
Tosch rescued the Dutch with a new equaliser, but Les Bleus utilized their momentum to strike twice in the dying minutes of the game and secure a win that will definitely help them see the upcoming stages of the season with a bigger confidence.
Goals: 0-1: Samoun, min. 1 (1); 0-2: Samoun, min. 10 (2); 1-2: Fong, min. 5 (2); 2-2: Kaleveld, min. 7 (3); 2-3: Bru, min. 5 (3);3-3: Tosch, min. 4 (3); 3-4: Bru, min. 1 (3); 3-5: Samoun, min. 0 (3);
New brilliant victory gets Germany with one foot in Superfinal
Germany have made today a significant step onwards in their growth within the international beach soccer stage. With a brilliant victory over Belarus, Boringschulte’s side claimed their sixth points in this opening Euro Beach Soccer League stage in Catania, what gives them more than real chances to get into the continental elite at the Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal.
The German side used a terribly prolific second leg of the game to decisively unbalance things on their favour, after a goalless first frame. Kniller, with a header when the ball seemed already lost out of bounds and Olli, with a terrific bicycle kick, swept Germany 2-0 ahead. Biermann and Weirauch, in the latter minutes of the period, made things even clearer, with the 0-4.
Before the end of that second frame, Bokach wanted to voice that Belarus was not beaten yet, and started the climb back for his side. Bryshtsel, one minute into the third period, cut the distance a bit more, with the 2-4 that anticipated a tough last leg for the German side. And so it was, with the Belarussian trying hard to equalize the score, but Boringschulte’s side displayed perfect defense to shut down their opponents and run to a new win in Catania.
Goals: 0-1: Kniller, min. 11 (2); 0-2: Olli, min. 9 (3); 0-3: Biermann, min. 4 (2); 0-4: Weirauch, min. 2 (2); 1-4: Bokach, min. 0 (2); 2-4: Bryshtsel, min. 10 (3);
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE – CATANIA 2014
Match results
Fri 20.06.14
14:45 – Poland 3-4 Belarus
16:00 – Italy 6-2 Netherlands
17:15 – France 2-6 Russia
18:30 – Germany vs Switzerland
Sat 21.06.14
14:45 – Poland vs Germany
16:00 – Switzerland vs Belarus
17:15 – Russia vs Netherlands
18:30 – France vs Italy
Sun 22.06.14
14:45 – Belarus 2-4 Germany
16:00 – Switzerland 11-3 Poland
17:15 – Netherlands 3-5 France
18:30 – Russia 1-2 Italy
Final standings:
Winner Group 1: Italy
Winner Group 2: Switzerland
MVP: Noel Ott (SUI)
Top scorer: Noel Ott (SUI) – 11 goals
Best Goalkeeper: Sasha Penke (GER)
