Women’s World Winners group still wide open after day two bouts
The World Winners Cup is heating up in Alanya, but we’re still not much closer to naming the victor in the women’s competition.
The matches couldn’t be any tighter, with only one of the four played so far being won in normal time, and even then, only by one goal.
WFC Zvezda (Russia) may not have been beaten, but after dropping points yesterday when they were dragged to the penalty spot, and only winning in extra time today, they sit on three points, joint with NorCal (USA).
This means that any team in the group is potentially only one win away from equalizing the leaders’ points tally, or even overtaking them.
This is how today’s dramatic ties were fought, and narrowly won and lost…
WFC Zvezda 2–1 Pavia Lokrians *AET
The tight nature of this group was demonstrated once again today as WFC Zvezda and Pavia Lokrians went to extra time as they had done in their matches the previous day.
Russian national team star, Gorshkova, broke the deadlock after a tense start to the game, and Zvedza lead for the majority of the time remaining.
After increasing the pressure and being a little wasteful with decent chances, a sublime overhead from Dani Barboza leveled the game up in the final period to force extra time for Lokrians.
In the added three minutes, Gorshkova’s cross-field pass cut through the Italians’ defense and was put away by Ivashkina to win a precious two points.
Dropping a point in extra time today and penalties yesterday means that this group remains very open, and it will be a real scrap for the title.
Tokyo Lequios LD 2-3 NorCal BS
The first game for the side travelling all the way from Japan was a match up against another of the competition’s furthest travelling teams, NorCal from the United States.
The California-based side just missed out from the penalty spot on day one and were in need of points in today’s tie.
But Tagashira Yoko took the lead for Tokyo Lequios in the opening period but Alexandria Hall was on hand to level up before the first whistle.
The Japanese number seven netted again in the next period with just seconds on the clock and it looked as if NorCal might face a second defeat in two day.
But the Americans turned the game on its head with two goals in the final 12 minutes, courtesy of Paxton Scott and Jeane Sunseri-Warp, going level on points with group leaders WFC Zvezda.
For more information on the World Winners Cup head to the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
