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A late flurry of goals on second day gives Russia a scare and Ott scores second hat-trick in two days to earn three points for Switzerland
Day two is over, the stadium is freshly empty and the tired, sandy legs are making their ways back to the hotels to get some well-earned rest. But the day isn’t over yet; we still have tomorrow to look forward to and now it’s time to look over how today’s beach soccer games in Moscow panned out.
DIVISION A
Russia v Poland
The hosts saw off Azerbaijan yesterday and now, in front of a full house, they were about to take on Marcin Stanislawski’s Poland. The Poles were also full of confidence after beating a strong Swiss side in their previous match and the teams battled hard to open the scoring.
It was the Russian, Romanov, who would find the back of the net first though, as he dived to meet a cross with his head. A matter of seconds later Yuri Krasheninnikov doubled the advantage and Russia led by two goals to nil as the first whistle blew.
This was just what the crowd came to see and they played their part, booing, ahhing and cheering at every opportunity. Seemingly content with their lead, Russia appeared to take their foot off the gas a little and were happy to just keep Poland at bay.
That is, until deep into the final period where Makarov drove home a free-kick and moments later Shishin made the net ripple once more with a low shot. Not quite out of it yet, Pozniak scored a penalty to bring the score to 4-1. Poland were just three goals behind again.
With two minutes to go a sudden frenzy of goals saw the score go from 4-1 to 6-3 which ended up being the final score. Shishin got himself a brace and Marciniak scored his second golazo in two days – not bad for a goalkeeper!
Russia remain unbeaten, and Poland go level on points with Switzerland.
Goals: 1-0: Romanov, min. 1 (1); 2-0: Krash, min. 1 (1); 3-0: Makarov, min. 5 (3); 4-0: Shishin, min. 5 (3); 4-1: Pozniak, min. 4 (3); 4-2: Friszkemut, min. 2 (3); 5-2: Paporotnyi, min. 2 (3); 5-3: Marciniak, min. 2 (3); 6-3: Shishin, min. 0 (3);
Switzerland v Azerbaijan
Both of these Division A teams lost their opening games yesterday and started the day on zero points. But inevitably one would move above the other in the table today and when Azerbaijan took an early lead through Nazarov Amid, it looked like it could be their day.
But a converted free-kick from Noel Ott brought the Swiss back on level terms within a minute and then Hodel rifled in an overhead shot for a second. Spacca then arrived on the end of a cross at the far post to drive home a third.
After going behind, an impressive spell of clinical play saw Angelo Schirinzi’s men turn the game around in just two minutes and as the first period ended they were dominating. The game continued at a similar pace into the second period and Ott completed his brace to bring his tournament total to five, going level with Kazakhstan’s Perevyortov as top scorer.
Orkhan pulled one back for Azerbaijan from the penalty spot and at 4-2 a comeback didn’t look so unlikely after all. But then Borer scored a penalty of his own and when Ott completed his hat-trick (whilst at the same time becoming the event’s leading top scorer) Azerbaijan found themselves trailing by four goals.
As time ran out for Zeynalov’s side, their last hope of points in Moscow will come tomorrow against Poland, while Switzerland face the hosts in the closing game of the competition.
Goals: 0-1: Amid, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Ott, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Hodel, min. 4 (1); 3-1: Spacca, min. 4 (1); 4-1: Ott, min. 8 (2); 4-2: Orkhan, min. 8 (3); 5-2: Borer, min. 6 (3); 6-2: Ott, min. 6 (3);
DIVISION B
Moldova v Lithuania
With no points between them following yesterday’s fixtures, Moldova and Lithuania went into today’s game as joint bottom of the Division B group. Both teams needed points but the match began slowly.
Neither side was able to crack the defence of the other until Arefiev drove a freekick past Petrauskas with three minutes of the first period to go. Despite conceding a goal, the Lithuanian number one saved his team from going further behind with some fine saves and as the period drew on, and he was the busier of the two keepers.
But almost as soon as the whistle signalling the start of the second period sounded, Moldova doubled their advantage when Cojocari volleyed in a loose ball from close range. Florea made it three before the break and Lithuania would have to come up with something special to bring themselves back into a tie that was rapidly slipping away from them.
Seeing the keeper off his line, Cojocari lofted in a long shot to make it four and a late consolation from Vitkauskas wasn’t enough to turn the game around. A comfortable win in the end for Moldova means that Lithuania remain bottom of the Division B table, while Arlet Vasilii’s side take away three well-deserved points.
Goals: 1-0: Arefiev, min. 3 (1); 2-0: Cojocari, min. 11 (2); 3-0: Florea, min. 6 (2); 4-0: Cojocari, min. 6 (3); 4-1: Vitkauskas, min. 3 (3);
Greece v Kazakhstan
Having taken three points each in their games yesterday, today’s tie between Greece and Kazakhstan would decide who went top of Division B…at least until tomorrow, of course.
Yerlan Jamantayev’s side drew first blood, and who else to open the scoring for Kazakhstan than Perevyortov. The forward scored four times yesterday, leading the race for event top scorer, and he made it five with a fine strike today.
Demeshko made it two, then Tyulpa struck again for three and Greece were in danger of being left in Kazakh dust, as the first period ended 0-3. Greece defended a little better in the second period but they couldn’t keep out Muralinov, whose volley was beautifully set up by Perevyortov.
The scoreline remained at 0-4 as the third period continued, with Greece forming more attacks but swiftly running out of time. Neither team found the back of the net in the final period, meaning that Greece go level on points with Moldova who won against Lithuania earlier, and Kazakhstan go top.
Goals: 0-1: Perevyortov, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Demeshko, min. 5 (1); 0-3: Tyulpa, min. 2 (1); 0-4: Muralinov, min. 1 (2);
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