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Switzerland, Spain and Ukraine take hard-fought wins as hosts Belarus enjoy convincing victory in European Games
Edu Suarez belted in a replica of the goal that won him the Goal of the Year award last season to bag two nervy points for Spain, as hosts Belarus opened the Games in Minsk with a win.
In Group B’s other match, the European champions came out on the wrong side of a tense penalty shootout against Ukraine, as three of today’s four matches went to extra time or beyond.
It is clear that the gold medal will not come easily in such a closely matched contest of the continent’s beach soccer goliaths.
A Portugal in shaky form kicked off their European Games against Switzerland…
Portugal 1–3 Switzerland *AET
The Portuguese qualified for the European Games with a strong third-place finish in the 2018 Euro Beach Soccer League. However, in the recent qualifiers for the World Beach Games (to be held in Qatar later this year) in Salou, they were knocked out of the running by a single goal.
That crucial quarter-final match up was against Switzerland, and today Portugal had the chance at revenge when the sides my in the first match in Minsk.
Switzerland struck first, but Borer turned the ball into his own net, gifting Mario Narciso’s side the lead. Portugal fought hard to hang on to the slimmest of advantages and made it to the first whistle in front.
The pressure built but neither side found the net in the second period of play, and it wasn’t until midway through the final 12 minutes that Hodel managed to convert to level the match up and force extra time.
With just thirty seconds of the added minutes remaining, goalkeeper Valentin struck to snatch the lead for Switzerland for the first time in the game, but incredibly there was still time for Noel Ott to deliver a last blow, taking the final score to 1-3.
An early two points go to the Swiss, while Portugal suffer a repeat defeat at the hands of Angelo Schirinzi’s men.
Goals: 1-0: Borer, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Hodel, min. 4 (3); 1-2: Valentin, min. 0 (ET); 1-3: Ott, min. 0 (ET);
Spain 5–4 Russia *AET
Just a few short months after contending the final of the European Qualifier for the World Beach Games in Salou, La Roja had a chance to make up for their loss to former world champions, Russia.
In a tight and fiercely fought first period, it was surprising that two sides with such firepower were unable to find the net, despite creating promising chances.
Early in the second period, scorer of 2018’s best goal, Edu Suarez, got Spain off the mark, but Shishin was on hand to pull the Russians right back into it.
Edu added another for Joaquin Alonso’s men in the closing stages of the period to nose them in front and Russia were trailing as the final 12 minutes got underway. They turned things around in style though, when Shishin bagged two more. Llorenç and Cintas struck for Spain, but Zemskov equalised to take the score to 4-4 and the game went to extra time.
There were just 17 seconds on the clock when the Spanish number nine hit his third of the match in a spectacular carbon copy of the goal that won him the award for best goal of 2018, as Edu powered in an overhead rocket from distance.
That wonder goal was the decider and two points see Spain open their account in Minsk, while Russia have their next go at points tomorrow when they face European champions, Italy.
Goals: 1-0: Eduard, min. 11 (2); 1-1: Shishin, min. 10 (2); 2-1: Eduard, min. 2 (2); 2-2: Shishin, min. 11 (3); 3-2: Llorenç, min. 7 (3); 3-3: Shishin, min. 6 (3); 4-3: Cintas, min. 6 (3); 4-4: Zemskov, min. 4 (3); 5-4: Eduard, min. 0 (ET);
Ukraine 4(4)–(3)4 Italy *PSO
The last time these sides met was at the 2018 Superfinal in Alghero, the final stage of the Euro Beach Soccer League which Italy famously went on to win on home soil.
There was just one extra time goal in the that 11-goal thriller as Italy squeezed past Ukraine, but today the contest was even closer…
The match started with little between the two, and the Ukrainians fought hard to keep the prolific Italian strikers out. But a breakthrough eventually came for the Azzurri, as Corosinitti struck from the penalty spot just before the first break.
Josep Jr made it two as the match approached the midway point, but Pachev pulled one back to stop Ukraine slipping too far behind.
Gori, top scorer of the recent Euro Winners Cup where he played for Ukrainians side, Artur Music, scored a third or Italy but when Nerush powered in a fine effort, the men in blue were still just a goal in front.
A late Pachev goal levelled the score to 4-4 when the third whistle blew, and extra time was needed for the third time today. However, those three added minutes were not enough to separate these two nations, and it went to penalties.
After the opening six spotkicks, it was three apiece, but in the first round of Sudden Death, Simone Marinai missed his penalty and the Ukrainians took the point. They will meet Spain tomorrow while Italy will take on Russia in both sides’ attempt at opening points in Minsk.
Goals: 0-1: Corosinitti, min. 1 (1); 0-2: Josep Jr, min. 6 (2); 1-2: Pachev, min. 6 (2); 1-3: Gori, min. 3 (2); 2-3: Nerush, min. 1 (2); 3-3: Medved, min. 7 (3); 3-4: Zurlo, min. 6 (3); 4-4: Pachev, min. 3 (3);
PSO: 1-0: Pachev, scored; 1-1: Chiavaro, scored; 2-1: Borsuk, scored; 2-2: Gori, scored; 3-2: Korniichuk, scored; 3-3: Zurlo, scored; 4-3: Medved, scored; 4-3: Marinai, missed;
Romania 1–6 Belarus
The hosts’ first test at the European Games in Minsk came against Romania, the only team from the Euro Beach Soccer League Division B to make it to Minsk.
But Division A’s Belarussians found it hard to break down their visitors, and after the opening 12 minutes there were no goals.
At the start of the second period though, it took only seconds for Belarus’ talisman, Ihor Bryshtel, to break the deadlock with a fine hit, and after five minutes Samsonov doubled the advantage.
Ravoiu got Romania back into the match around the midway point of the match but Hapon restored the two-goal cushion just seconds before the whistle went to signal the end of the period.
The final 12 minutes began with the hosts leading and they moved their attack up a notch as Makarevich got on the scoresheet, netting two in three minutes, and Samsonov then added his second, taking the final score to 1-6.
Belarus took by far the most comfortable win of the day in the only match not to go to extra time, and will go into tomorrow’s bout against Switzerland with a confidence boost, while Romania take on Portugal.
Goals: 0-1: Bryshtel, min. 11 (2); 0-2: Samsonov, min. 6 (2); 1-2: Ravoiu, min. 6 (2); 1-3: Hapon, min. 0 (2); 1-4: Makarevich, min. 5 (3); 1-5: Makarevich, min. 2 (3); 1-6: Samsonov, min. 0 (3);
Stay up to date on the fixtures, results and standing of European Games Minsk 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
