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We are down to the final two teams here in Nazaré as the semi-finals are won and lost
Only two teams are left in the Euro Winners Cup and they will play each other tomorrow in the final, as the rest battle for play-off spots.
This is how four became two…
Semi-Finals
KP Lodz vs Kristall
Considering that they were newcomers to the Euro Winners Cup, KP Lodz (Poland) found themselves in the last four against one of the most formidable opponents in the sport. Kristall (Russia), who had just won the Nazaré Cup, had a job on their hands to see off this passionate Polish team.
The Russian side went behind in the seventh minute to a Kubiak goal and despite an equaliser a couple of minutes later, it was clear that they should not underestimate their opponents. It took until late in the second period for the deadlock to be broken again, when Shishin netted with just a few minutes to go.
Kristall managed to fend off the Polish attacks for the rest of the period but in the third and final stage of the game, both teams scored again and, as tensions rose, Kristall desperately hung on to their delicate lead until the final whistle to seal their place in the final. They would now have to wait to see whether they faced SC Braga or fellow Russians, Lokomotiv.
SC Braga vs BSC Lokomotiv
Last year’s champions were going to have to be on top form today if they wanted to repeat their winning ways of 2017. A dangerous Lokomotiv team were eager to follow their countrymen, BSC Kristal, into the Euro Winners Cup final.
It was SC Braga that opened the scoring through Be Martins and Lokomotiv begun the second period chasing to get back into the game, but Braga doubled their lead making things even more difficult for the Russian side.
Catarino pulled one back for Lokomotiv but once Bokinha completed his brace to make it 3-1, the Russian side ran out of time. SC Braga will meet Kristall in the final tomorrow.
Position Play-Offs
FC Bate Borisov vs BSC Vybor
FC Bate and BSC Vybor both lost their games yesterday by a single goal after hard-fought clashes against big teams. Today was their penultimate chance to pick up some points and try to secure as high a finishing position as possible.
The Belarusians were beating the Ukrainians at the close of the first period, by two goals to one, but the comeback was on. After a goalless second period, Zborovskyi got himself two goals and Savich got on the scoresheet too. All level at 3-3, the teams went to extra time, when Savich completed his brace, and Zborovskyi his hat-trick to take the points for Vybor.
ACS West Deva vs MFC Spartak
Having both won their games, albeit by a single goal, yesterday, ACS West Deva and MFC Spartak had the opportunity to finish in a decent position in the final standings.
The Romanians kicked the game into action when Fekete scored the only goals of the first period but in the second, they managed to extend their lead to a more comfortable three-goal cushion.
Spartak were unable to respond with a goal of their own and West Deva went even further ahead, scoring through Boata three minutes before the final whistle and clinching victory.
CD Melistar Melilla vs Falfala Kfar Qassem BSC
Having won their games yesterday, but still licking wounds obtained in crashing out of the Euro Winners Cup, both CD Melistar and Falfala were looking to round off the tournament in winning fashion.
But to win you have to score goals, something which neither team managed to achieve in the first period and it was deep into the second that the Melistar number nine, Javier Torres , finally broke the deadlock. But two minutes later they were all square again, with a goal from an Ozu free-kick getting Falfala back in the game.
After going behind again, Llorenç smashed in an unstoppable bicycle kick to draw Falfala level six seconds before the second break. When both teams scored again it looked like the match would go to extra time, but two minutes before the whistle the Spanish scored to snatch the option of extra time away from the Israeli team, who ran out of time to put together a response.
Dinamo Batumi vs Alanyabelediye Spor
The quarter-finals were cruel to these two teams yesterday, and the best possible finish they could hope for now would be fifth. This is what Dinamo Batumi (Georgia) and Alanyabelediye Spor (Turkey) were fighting for today.
The Georgians took the lead initially but that seemed to wake the Turkish side up and they ended the first period having scored five goals, with Keskin claiming a hat-trick. After the preliminary wobble, Alanyabelediye got into the swing of things and, as Keskin grabbed number four, the Georgians were well beaten by the time the final whistle blew.
Happy Car Sambendettese BS vs Sporting CP
Suffering painful defeats in yesterday’s quarter-finals, Happy Car Sambendettese and Sporting CP joined Dinamo Batumi and Alanyabelediye Spor in the spar for fifth position.
Happy Car went into the first break with the lead, courtesy of Pedro. However, the Portuguese team looked the stronger of the two in the second period, scoring two goals and bringing the core back to 2-2.
The match stayed close for the whole of normal time, when it finished three apiece, and then into extra time, which still couldn’t decide the teams. But a penalty shootout could – and it was Sporting who held their nerve to convert the winning shot.
Nomme BSC Olybet vs Kreiss
Using their remaining time in Nazaré to rack up as many wins as possible, as well as finishing in as high a position as possible, Nomme BSC Olybet from Estonia and their Latvian challengers, Kreiss, were going for glory.
The Estonians got the game started by netting five minutes from time but the response came fast, and Kreiss ended the period with a 2-1 lead. In the second, they asserted their dominance further by knocking in a few more goals with Nomme unable to keep up with the pace of the game.
Braces from Jakovlevs and Galkin proved vital for the Latvians and in the end, their victory was more comfortable than it could have been, thanks to their effectiveness in front of goal.
For full results, fixtures and standings, click here.
