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Switzerland and Ukraine dominate in Division A clashes while Azerbaijan, Turkey, Romania, and the Czech Republic win in Division B
Ukraine shocks Spain in huge win
The 9-4 win for Ukraine over Spain was not shocking because of the result, the teams have fought hard in every match against each other in recent years, but more so because of the amount of goals and how they did it. Spain took the first lead and had a hat-trick from their star Llorenç within the first minutes of the middle frame but that was not the surprise, it was that Ukraine scored 9 goals going into the final frame. Spain scored early in the final frame to try and spark a comeback but it was not enough, despite holding Ukraine scoreless in the final 12 minutes. The win secures Ukraine’s spot in the Superfinal in Estonia at the end of August, though they will hope for a sweep on Sunday, going against Switzerland. Spain must battle the hosts, Hungary, on Sunday, both in dire need of a victory.
Goals are normally easy to come by for Ukraine and Spain and despite coming into this match on different playing curves, they both scored early to show why they are both so dangerous on the defensive side of the ball. The offensive get much more attention and respect in beach soccer, and rightly so, but the defensive can make or break a game also, and these two sides have stout defenses that even in the first period, showed their importance. Spain’s defense was initially unable to handle Ukraine’s offense as the Blue and Yellows took a 3-1 lead into the final minute of the frame, when Llorenç scored his second of the day to pull his Spanish side back to within 3-2. Ukraine answered mere seconds later, on a shot from Pachev to push his sides’ lead back to two goals, at 4-2, which is how the period would end. The second period was filled with goals but the ball was continually bouncing the way of Ukraine as they tacked on five more goals in the frame, while shutting out Spain to take a 9-3 advantage into the final frame.
Spain may have been looking at a big deficit but they had comeback before against Ukraine, and they knew they needed to take a step-by-step approach and they made sure they tightened up their defense and score first. The defense was easy thing to solidify and they notched and early goal, on a penalty kick from Antonio, which brought La Furia Roja to within 4-9. The momentum and score did not shift beyond that and when the last buzzer sounded, it was Ukraine who earned the 9-4 victory.
Goals: 1-0: Llorenç, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Zborovskyi, min. 5 (1); 1-2: Voitok, min. 2 (1); 1-3: Zborovoskyi, min. 2 (1); 2-3: Llorenç, min. 1 (1); 2-4: Pachev, min. 0 (1); 2-5: Zborovskyi, min. 11 (2); 3-5: Llorenç, min. 9 (2); 3-6: Korniichuk, min. 7 (2); 3-7: Voitok, min. 5 (2); 3-8: Borsuk A., min. 3 (2); 3-9: Pachev, min. 2 (2); 4-9: Antonio, min. 9 (3).
Azerbaijan slowly but steadily marches to victory
The 4-0 win for Azerbaijan over Moldova was a great display of patience for the victors as they did not start fast but they stuck to their game plan and trusted in their model for winning. Both teams were held scoreless and the eventual goals did not come in bunches but rather very timely and precise strikes. Azerbaijan played a spectacular game on defense and that is what created the shutout, not a lack of offense from Moldova. The Moldovans were continually knocked out of their offensive grooves and that added to the slight gaps in their defense that gave way to the Azerbaijani goals. The win gives Azerbaijan their first win on the weekend and they will hope to build on that on Sunday against England. Moldova will still be in search of their first win in Siófok when they face Romania on Sunday.
The two sides began the match with an aggressive approach and it made the goalies work, but both keepers did not shy away from the action and task at hand. The Azerbaijani maintained the ball for far longer than the Moldovans but the early scoring did not come. The teams were getting a better feel for the opponents’ defense and the feeling was the goals would flow as the offensive tactics began to catch up to the defense. The frame came to an end with the score sitting just how it started, tied at 0. The first goal and momentum builder went to Azerbaijan early in the middle frame when Sabir rattled home a shot to put his side up 1-0. That goal would prove to be the only one of the period and the second 12 minutes ended with the Land of Fire up 1-0.
In the final frame the Azerbaijani were more successful in their strikes and found the back of the net twice in the early going and those strikes, both from Ramil, gave them a 3-0 leave going into the last minutes of the game. Moldova was not sloppy in their offense or defense but Azerbaijan was playing spectacular on both sides of the ball. The two proud National Selections never let their energy falter and they were always in search of more goals and getting possession of the ball. When the final whistle sounded, Azerbaijan had earned the very sound 4-0 win.
Goals: 1-0: Sabir, min. 8 (2); 2-0: Ramil, min. 8 (3); 3-0: Ramil, min. 7 (3); 4-0: Amid, min. 1 (3).
Turkey deftly wins to earn Promotion Final berth
The 7-3 win for Turkey over Norway was different for both teams than their opening wins. Turkey started slow in their victory over Andorra but today they started fast and never looked back. Norway did win their first match, over the Czech Republic, but apart from that difference, they also did not have the same attitude they possessed in their opening victory. The Norwegians had their chances to get into the game, and they capitalized on those, but each time they did, Turkey made sure they did not miss their chances. The triumph for Turkey secures their spot in the Promotion Final, which if they win that, they can advance to Division A. Turkey will finish in Siofok on Sunday by playing the Czech Republic. Norway can still qualify for the Promotion Final in Estonia, but they will need to take care of business against Andorra on Sunday.
The clash began with Turkey asking more of the questions but none of the questions were too difficult for Norway to answer, though as each second passed, the pressure for the first goal grew and grew. The pressure was released for Turkey late in the period when Seyit kicked home a beautiful bicycle, to give the Turkish side a 1-0 lead. The lead was doubled barely a minute later when Baris struck gold and gave his side a 2-0 lead, which would hold going into the second period. Turkey continued their push in the second period, scoring early with the second goal of the day from Baris, but the Norwegians quickly answered on a blast from Senja, marking the begin of the comeback they needed and also putting the score at 3-1 for Turkey, which is how the period would end.
Norway scored last, had grabbed some momentum and began the final frame ready to attack and get back the two goals they were currently down by. For Norway, it was impossible to keep things going, they would start rolling and then Turkey would shut them down. Turkey scored their fourth goal, regaining their three goal advantage but then Norway cut the lead in half with their second goal. The 4-2 score did not stay long as Turkey again scored, then once more to put the score seemingly out of reach at 6-2. As the last minute, of the 36 total, ticked away, Turkey had earned the 7-3 win.
Goals: 1-0: Seyit, min. 4 (1); 2-0: Baris, min. 3 (1); 3-0: Baris, min. 8 (2); 3-1: Senja, min. 6 (2); 4-1: Cem, min. 10 (3); 4-2: Salveson, min. 9 (3); 5-2: Volkan, min. 9 (3); 6-2: Emrah, min. 8 (3); 7-2: Yucel, min. 0 (3); 7-3: Jacobsen, min. 0 (3).
Romania navigates way to first win
The 5-2 win for Romania over England was very close until the Romanians used an offensive outburst in the second period to run away from the English side. Based solely on the eye-test, England played a better match than they did in their opening win but beach soccer is not a a merciful game. Romania began slow but eventually found their form, which looked dominant at times, and were able to secure their first points and win. Romania will have to fight just as hard on the final day, against Moldova, to make sure they can advance to the Promotion Final. England won in their first match but were not able to get their second win today, although they will have that chance on Sunday against Azerbaijan.
England started the match in complete control, taking more shots, owning the advantage in shots on goal, and having the majority of ball possession, but neither the offense or the defense for either side was able to create any early goals. The period drew to a close after a 0-0 stalemate. The middle frame began just the opposite as the first, as two great goals were scored in the first minute. Both strikes came from Romania, which put England in a hole, similar to what they faced in their opening day win against Moldova. A penalty kick awarded to the Three Lions gave them the chance to shift momentum but it went missing and the score remained the same going into the heart of the period, 2-0 for the Romanians. England gave up one more goal in the period and the score sat at 3-0 going into the final break.
Romania did not want to give England any chance of comeback, while England was trying to not give their Tricolorii any breathing room. Another safety goal did come for Romania in the first minute of the final frame, putting the score at 4-0. The Three Lions were not ready to give up after a Romanian goal, second from Maci, was scored, they and found a spark in a rocket of a shot from Bowes, then another blast from their captain, Clarke, put the score at 5-2, making the final minutes that much more interesting. Despite a desperate pressing from England, the score would not get any closer and the end of the match came and went with Romania up 5-2.
Goals: 0-1: Maci, min. 11 (2); 0-2: Raj, min- 11 (2); 0-3: Dobre, min. 7 (2); 0-4: Maci, min. 11 (3); 0-5: Maci, min. 6 (3); 1-5: Bowes, min. 5 (3); 2-5: Clarke, min. 4 (3).
The Czech Republic turns deficit into quality win
The 5-3 victory for the Czech Republic over Andorra began with Andorra taking their shots and connecting as they took an early 1-0 and then 2-1 lead but that was when the Czechs turned things around and began playing with confidence and force. After the Andorrans scored their second goal, the Czech Republic went on a 4-0 run to take a 5-2 lead, which was enough to hold off the hard-pushing Andorrans. The win is the first of the weekend for the Czech Republic and it sets them up nicely for their final match on Sunday against Turkey. Andorra has not yet secured a win in Siófok but they will have another chance on Sunday against Norway.
Two teams looking for their first win with the hope of making the Promotion Final is a recipe for great action and drama. Sure enough, on the opening kick-off Andorra took the lead on a blast from Tosovsky, but it only took a few minutes for the Czechs to respond. The scoring continued as the Andorrans were able to add another goal before the period ended and they clung to a slight 2-1 lead going into the first break. The Czechs accepted the challenge that they were facing and made sure and turn the tables in the middle frame by scoring two quick goals and taking their first lead of the day. The slim 3-2 lead was not enough as added another, on a direct kick by Chalupa from midfield, just before the midway point of the match, and that 4-2 lead was enough for the Czechs to relax, if just a bit. The next goal did not come until the final minutes of the period, though it was again from the Czech Republic and they took a 5-2 lead into the final period.
Scoring did not come in bunches n the last period, though Andorra began to mount their arduous comeback when Lima scored in the first few minutes of the frame, to put the score at 5-3, but as the game progessed, the trend was the Czech Republic attacking. For all the time the ball was on the Andorran half of the pitch, the Czechs could not find the nail to put in the coffin. The teams did see some open opportunities but the goals did not come like they had earlier in the match and when the referee signaled the end of the match, the score was 5-3 for the Czech Republic.
Goals: 0-1: Salvat, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Tosovsky, min. 8 (1); 1-2: Salvat, min. 4 (1); 2-2: Mizar, min. 8 (2); 3-2: Salvat, min. 8 (2); 4-2: Chalupa, min. 7 (2); 5-2: Chalupa, min. 2 (2); 5-3: Lima, min. 8 (3).
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE 2015 SIÓFOK
Results Today:
Saturday 08.08.15
12:15 – Czech Republic 5-3 Andorra (Division B Group 2)
13:30 – England 2-5 Romania (Division B Group 1)
14:45 – Turkey 7-3 Norway (Division B Group 2)
16:00 – Azerbaijan 4-0 Moldova (Division B Group 1)
17:15 – Spain 4-9 Ukraine (Division A)
18:30 – Switzerland 10-4 Hungary (Division A)
Upcoming Matches:
Sunday 09.08.15
10:45 – Norway vs Andorra (Division B Group 2)
12:00 – Moldova vs Romania (Division B Group 1)
13:15 – Turkey vs Czech Republic (Division B Group 2)
14:30 – Azerbaijan vs England (Division B Group 1)
15:45 – Switzerland vs Ukraine (Division A)
17:00 – Hungary vs Spain (Division A)
