As EBSL Sanxenxo prepares for its final day, the competition is heating up.
Spain put on another display of attacking quality for the Euro Beach Soccer League crowds in Sanxenxo as they moved past Ukraine 11-3 on Saturday.
The hosts put seven past Romania on Friday and – in front of watching Barcelona star Denis Suarez – improved further against the French to put them level on points with Sunday’s opponents Ukraine in Division A, Group One.
The likes of Cintas, Antonio, R. Merida and Kuman helped Spain into a commanding 9-1 lead after two periods, with the goals continuing to flow in the final 12 minutes.
France remain winless in the competition, while Sunday’s finale between Spain and Ukraine promises to be a special contest.
R. Merida got Spain up and running with a low drive early on but France hit back immediately through Marques in a rip-roaring start.
Antonio’s free-kick ensured parity was fleeting, with R. Merida adding his second prior to Ezequiel’s cheeky back heel and F. Guisado’s low strike.
Kuman’s brace late in the first period made it seven before Antonio and Cintas completed the second-period scoring.
Basquaise and Grandon struck either side of Antonio’s third before Ezequiel rounded off the scoring to set up a tantalising match-up with Ukraine on Sunday evening to close the competition.
Goals; 1-0: R. Merida, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Marques, min. 11 (1); 2-1: Antonio, min. 11 (1); 3-1: R. Merida, min. 11 (1); 4-1: Ezequiel, min. 7 (1); 5-1: F. Guisado, min. 6 (1); 6-1: Kuman, min. 2 (1); 7-1: Kuman, min. 1 (1); 8-1: Antonio, min. 3 (2); 9-1: Cintas, min. 3 (2); 9-2: Basquaise, min. 8 (3); 10-2: Antonio, min. 8 (3); 10-3: Grandon, min. 7 (3); 11-3: Ezequiel, min. 5 (3);
Belchior treble helps Portugal down Germany
World champions Portugal eased past Germany to set up their own top-of-the-table clash with Switzerland on Sunday, running out 9-1 winners in Sanxenxo.
The world’s top ranked side beat Greece on Friday and will finish top of their group if they beat the Swiss, having proven too strong for Germany in Galicia.
Belchior was the hat-trick hero while Thurk’s late goal proved scant consolation for Germany, who face an uphill task to qualify for the Superfinal.
Goals: 1-0: Belchior, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Be Martins, min. 5 (1); 3-0: Torres, min. 4 (1); 4-0: Madjer, min. 3 (1); 5-0: Biermann own-goal, min. 2 (1); 6-0: Belchior, min. 9 (2); 7-0: Jordan, min. 9 (3); 8-0: Coimbra, min. 6 (3); 9-0: Belchior, min. 5 (3); 9-1: Thurk, min. 5 (3);
Swiss prevail as Greece fall short again
Switzerland made it two wins from two in Sanxenxo’s leg of the Euro Beach Soccer League as they held off Greece in a 6-4 success on Saturday.
The Swiss will battle it out with Portugal for top spot in Division A, Group Two, after doing enough to end the resistance of a spirited Greek effort thanks to goals from Valentin, Hodel, Stankovic, Wittlin, Ott and Spacca.
Goals: 1-0: Valentin, min 9 (1); 2-0: Hodel, min. 7 (1); 3-0: Stankovic, min. 3 (1); 4-0: Wittlin, min. 10 (2); 4-1: Papaefstratiou, min. 9 (2); 4-2: Kafantaris, min. 8 (2); 4-3: Misev own-goal, min. 8 (2); 5-3: Ott, min. 2 (2); 5-4: Papaefstratiou, min. 10 (3); 6-4: Spacca, min. 3 (3)
Salveson helps Norway edge seven-goal thriller
Norway made a winning start to their Euro Beach Soccer League campaign with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Holland on Saturday.
Hakan Wallden’s men fell behind early but quickly responded and amassed a 4-1 lead thanks to a brace from impressive captain Salveson, with Norway able to hold off a late Dutch fightback and set up a winner-takes-all clash with Czech Republic on Sunday.
Goals: 0-1: Wolf, min 10 (1); 1-1: Li, min. 10 (1); 2-1: Jacobsen, min. 6 (2); 3-1: Salveson, min. 3 (2); 4-1: Salveson, min. 10 (3); 4-2: Timmer, min. 8 (3); 4-3: Donkers, min. 7 (3);
Ukraine late show thwarts Romania
Ukraine left it late but maintained their 100 per cent record in Sanxenxo with a 7-5 win against Romania, who led with four minutes left of play.
Romania were impressive in defeat to Spain and, in a topsy turvy contest on Saturday, were aided by spirited displays from the likes of Maci and Bogdan saw them 5-4 ahead with the clock ticking down.
But a late double from Voitok put Ukraine on six points and in direct competition with Spain for top spot in Division A, Group One.
Goals: 1-0: Zborovskyi, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Korniichuk, min. 11 (2); 2-1: Maci, min. 10 (2); 3-1: Korniichuk, min. 10 (2); 3-2: Zaharia, min. 2 (2); 3-3: Maci, min. 1 (2); 4-3: Budzko, min. 0 (2); 4-4: Maci, min. 9 (3); 4-5: Bogdan, min. 8 (3); 5-5: Voitok, min. 5 (3); 6-5: Voitok, min. 4 (3); 7-5: Zborovskyi min. 0 (3)
Turkey gears up late on to down Andorra
Turkey and England will battle for a ticket to the Promotional final, following the victory of the Turkish over Andorra in the second matchday of the Euro Beach Soccer League Sanxenxo.
One goal at each end left the score balanced after the first period, with Gabi neutralizing Baris’ opener.
But Turkey pulled clear and moved two goals ahead in the middle frame, although before the period was over, Alex pulled one back and got Andorra ready to fight for the equalizer.
Notwithstanding, the Turkish side geared up in the last twelve minutes to secure a very important win, which puts them top of the table.
Tomorrow, Turkey and England will square off for the head of the group, which means the chance to fight for a Division A slot in the upcoming Euro Beach Soccer League Promotion Final Catania.
Goals: 1-0: Baris, min. 1-1: Gabi, min. 8 (1); 2-1: Recep, min. 8 (2); 3-1: Cem, min. 1 (2); 3-2: Alex, min. 0 (2); 4-2: Erkan, min. 9 (3); 5-2: Cem, min. 2 (3)
Saturday’s results
Turkey 5-2 Andorra
Norway 4-3 Holland
Switzerland 6-4 Greece
Ukraine 7-5 Romania
Portugal 9-1 Germany
Spain 11-3 France
Sunday’s fixtures
England v Turkey (12.30)
Czech Republic v Norway (13.45)
Germany v Greece (15.00)
France v Romania (16.15)
Portugal v Switzerland (17.30)
Spain v Ukraine (18.45)
