Turkey and Estonia to contest Promotion Final

After losing their opening game to Lithuania, Turkey have turned their form around to reach the Promotion Final. They will meet Estonia who knocked Moldova out of the running earlier in the day.

In the other games, Greece’s Katsoulis shoots up the scoring chart after his hat-trick against Lithuania, and Czech Republic and Sweden contested the first penalty shootout of the Promotion Final.

MDA 3-4 EST (Group 2)

Having won both of their previous games in Group 1, Moldova and Estonia faced each other on Saturday for that all-important place in the Promotion Final.

It took just seconds for the Estonians to open the scoring through Kotter, but the winners of the Regular Phase surged back into the match, with Gurjui and Graur turning the scoreline around before the first whistle.

Podlesnov polished off his second of the tournament to make it three to Moldova in the second period. However, Estonia have impressed throughout the 2021 season, and a one-minute brace from Lepik saw the sides level once more.

It looked as if the score would be 3-3 heading into the final period, but Nommiko scrambled to put away the fourth and final goal for Estonia, and they stubbornly held on to their lead to seal a place in Sunday’s Promotion Final.

Goals: 0-1: Kotter, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Gurjui, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Graur, min. 5 (1); 3-1: Podlesnov, min. 8 (2); 3-2: Lepik, min. 5 (2); 3-3: Lepik, min. 5 (2); 3-4: Nommiko, min. 0 (2);

TUR 9-2 KAZ (Group 1)

Each having lost and won one game, everything was still up for grabs in the Group 1 race for the Promotion Final place.

Turkey suffered a shock defeat in their opening tie against Lithuania without scoring a single goal, but they certainly found their form when they needed it most against Kazakhstan…

Serkan opened the scoring, followed by Seyit Ahmet and then a brilliant Baris brace either side of the first whistle had the men in red firmly in control of the match. The Turkish domination continued through the second period where Cem Keskin and Volkan joined the fray.

Baris completed his hat-trick to help take the final score to nine, with the Kazakhs managing two late consolation goals through Gulyy and Yershin.

Turkey storm in the Promotion Final where they will have the chance to defend their Division A status against Estonia tomorrow.

Goals: 1-0: Serkan, min. 7 (1); 2-0: Seyit Ahmet, min. 5 (1); 3-0: Baris, min. 2 (1); 4-0: Baris, min. 11 (2); 5-0: Cem Keskin, min. 6 (2); 6-0: Volkan, min. 1 (2); 7-0: Baris, min. 10 (3); 8-0: Cem Keskin, min. 8 (3); 8-1: Yershin, min. 5 (3); 8-2: Gulyy, min. 3 (3); 9-2: Semih, min. 2 (3);

GRE 5-4 LTU (Group 1)

The teams of Group 1 all started the day tied on three points, meaning that in Saturday’s matches there was everything to play for.

Giedraitis hit his first of the campaign for Lithuania, but Katsoulis snuck in just before the break to bury an equaliser. A Navickas double in the second period retook control of the match for the men in yellow, and there was just time for Makutunovičius to toe poke in number four with literally a second on the clock.

Greece mounted an incredible comeback in the final period, with the imperious Katsoulis hitting a hat-trick to take his tournament tally to six and staying ahead in the race for Top Scorer.

Nikolaou and Triantafyllidis completed the turnaround as Lithuania struggled to contain the Greeks, who clung to their slim lead to see the game out and stay in the race for the Superfinal.

Goals: 0-1: Giedraitis, min. 1 (1); 1-1: Katsoulis, min. 1 (1); 1-2: Navickas, min. 5 (2); 1-3: Navickas, min. 2 (2); 1-4: Makutunovičius, min. 0 (2); 2-4: Katsoulis, min. 10 (3); 2-4: Katsoulis, min. 10 (3); 3-4: Katsoulis, min. 10 (3); 4-4: Nikolaou, min. 9 (3); 5-4: Triantafyllidis, min. 3 (3);

CZE 3(5)-(3)3 SWE (Group 2)

After two defeats in their opening matches, and hopes of a place in the Promotion Final dashed, Sweden and Czech Republic met to contend the Group 2 third place.

An unfortunate Bruzelius own goal saw the score opened in favour of Martin Dlouhy’s men, and after the first break Trampota, Top Scorer of the Regular Phase in Moldova, doubled the Czech advantage.
Gustafsson and Kettler struck early in the second period though, pulling the Swedes back into the match, and a late goal at either end in the dying seconds of normal time saw the match spill over into extra time, and then penalties.

Czech Republic stayed perfect to score all of their penalties and claim a single point in the final group match.

Goals: 1-0: Bruzelius (OG), min. 4 (1); 2-0: Trampota, min. 11 (2); 2-1: Gustafsson, min. 9 (2); 2-2: Kettler, min. 7 (3); 3-2: Radosta, min. 0 (3); 3-3: Palmen, min. 0 (3);

For full details on the EBSL Superfinal and Promotion Final, including fixtures, results and standings, head to beachsoccer.com.