Brazil and Paraguay take care of business against Uruguay and Chile while Peru and Colombia earn first victories
Peru holds off Venezuela for first win
The 7-4 win for Peru came downto the final period as the Peruvians built a lead that seemed safe, but Venezuela slowly charged back to get to within one goal late in the match. The Incans showed their clutch nature and scored just a little later in the match to restore a small but definitive two goal advantage. The victory gives Los Incas their first win of the tournament and more importantly, three points, which they will need if they hope to advance to the knockout rounds. Peru will next play on Tuesday against Argentina.
Peru and Venezuela wasted no time in starting their attacks and the quick start created an opening minute goal for Los Incas. The one goal advantage over the Burgundy doubled just past the midway point in the period on a strike from Castro. Venezuela created more than a few good chances but the Incans were able to narrowly alter the shots, preventing any goals and they actually scored the third goal of the match late in the frame to take a safe 3-0 lead into the first break. The Vinotinto started the middle 12 minutes with their first goal and seemed to be building momentum, as they were only down 3-1, but the Peruvians replied with another two goals of their own, pushing the lead to the largest of the match thus far, at 4 goals, by a score of 5-1. The Venezuelans scored again to inch closer and the second period with them looking at a 5-2 deficit going into the last 12 minutes.
Venezuela began the last period knowing they needed to shut down the Peruvians and go on scoring frenzy. The goals were not there in the opening minutes of the period, but in beach soccer hardly any lead is safe. Near the midway point in the period, the Venezuelans did find their third goal, drawing back to within two at 5-3. As is said in sports, a three goal lead is the worst to have, because the teams start to feel confident and complacent. Peru did not want to fall victim to that thinking, but Venezuela was fighting hard and believing in the big comeback. As the final whistle sounded, Peru let out a sigh of relief and celebrated as they earned the immensely tight 7-4 win.
Goals: 1-0: Zagaceta, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Castro, min. 5 (1); 3-0: Moscoso, min. 4 (1); 3-1: Landaeta, min. 11 (2); 4-1: Rey, min. 7 (2); 5-1: Delgado, min. 6 (2); 5-2: Vaamonde, min. 0 (2); 5-3: Rodriguez, min. 7 (3); 5-4: Vaamonde, min. 3 (3); 6-4: Vidal, min. 3 (3); 7-4: Velezmore, min. 0 (3).
Colombia dashes Bolivia’s hopes with one shot
The 1-0 (aet) win for Colombia over Bolivia was a match that saw so many shots go just wide or just over the goal that you could have filled an Olympic sized pool with all the balls. The pendulum of momentum swung from one side to the other as Bolivia seemed poised to win in the opening period, but progressing through the match, Colombia got stronger, but the deciding goal did not come in regular time. The overtime thriller did not disappoint in the extra frame with Colombia withstanding many great Bolivian shots, but eventually scoring late in the frame. The win gives Colombia two points, because it was an overtime win, and their first win of the tournament. The Colombians will next play Ecuador on Tuesday. Bolivia barely missed out on a chance for a win and points but they will look to try again on Tuesday against Chile.
The opening frame of this highly anticipated match was very physical as both sides wanted to physically, mentally, and emotionally break the other side. The crushing goals did not come and the level of play continued to escalate. The Bolivians saw just a few more chances than the Colombians in the opening frame but the level of play of equal and nothing could separate the two sides in the first 12 minutes. The game went into the first break still tied at 0. The second period showcased more finesse than the first period but much like the first, the defense was being played at the highest level and going into the final minutes of the period, there still had been no score. La Verde piled up quality shots on goal, from deep runs, direct kicks, and set pieces but Los Cafeteros were more than ready on the back line and their goalie helped keep the game scoreless going into the final frame.
In other sports it is said that just before the half and just before the end of the match are the most important minutes, but in beach soccer every minute counts and in this match with the score tied at 0, the opening minutes of the last 12 minutes were even more important. The blocked shots and saves were amassing and the score remained level as the middle of the frame approached. In the waning minutes of the match, Colombia was pressing more and more and asking all the questions. The pressure continued to mount and neither side wanted to give up the first most likely last goal of the match. The goal never came and the match went into overtime tied at 0. The first seconds of the extra frame were some of the most exciting of the match, with the Greens nearly scoring multiple times, but it was the Colombians who netted the first goal on a rocket from Camilo and the Colombians finished the match being up 1-0.
Brazil remains undefeated after day 2 win
The 6-3 victory for the beach soccer giants, Brazil, over Uruguay was not a cake walk and could have gone the other way but the skill of the Brazilians was just too much for the Uruguayans. Both sides played a tough match and even though Brazil scored first and looked confident, Uruguay was not going to allow the Brazilians to run away with the match. Uruguay showed fight late in the match and tried to complete the comeback, but they could not completely stop the beach soccer giants. The triumph for Brazil was a spectacular match building up to their almost sure advancement to the next round, due in part to the high quality team that Uruguay fields, but also because they looked the part of a champion. Brazil has sic points through two matches and will next face Venezuela on Wednesday. Uruguay could be encouraged by their showing today but they will not be satisfied and they will look to rebound against Venezuela on Tuesday.
Brazil may have been the favourites, but not by much and no one told the Uruguayans as theywere very active on both ends of the pitch in the opening minutes of the match. The increased activity kept the Tetra Campeones at bay, but it also did not yield any goals for Los Charruas. Daniel broke the 0-0 tie late in the first period, putting the score at 1-0 to the good for Los Canarinhos. Uruguay used a late goal to draw even in the frame and tie things at 1-all going into the middle frame. The second 12 minutes began just as exciting and if you are a fan of Brazil, even better. Gabriel scored his first of the match to put his side up 2-1. Not more than a minute later, superstar Bruno Xavier netted his first to give the Brazilians a commanding 3-1 lead. The command did not last long as Uruguay responded with their second goal, pulling back to within one goal at 3-2. The Verde-Amarela scored their fourth on a great long-range shot from Bruno Xavier, his second of the day, to push the lead back to two goals at 4-2. The remainder of the period was played without any more goals as Brazil held a 4-2 lead.
Uruguay knew they needed the first goal of the final frame and they did all they can to get, nearly scoring their third goal on multiple occasions but it was the Green and Yellow who scored first, from Rodrigo to put the advantage at 5-2. The Canaries tacked on a sixth goal, from a penalty kick, before ceding the third of the match to Uruguay. The Uruguayans were running up and down the pitch, rushing to balls, and not wasting a moment in trying to get back into the match, but Brazil had safely navigated their opponents’ defense enough times to secure the 6-3 win when the match officially came to an end.
Goals: 1-0: Daniel, min. 4 (1); 1-1: Martin, min. 1 (1); 2-1: Gabriel, min. 11 (2); 3-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 10 (2); 3-2: Matias, min. 9 (2); 4-2: Bruno Xavier, min. 9 (2); 5-2: Rodrigo, min. 9 (3); 6-2: Datinha, min. 4 (3); 6-3: Richard, min. 4 (3).
Paraguay rides 1st period momentum to victory
The 7-3 win for Paraguay over Chile started quick, with goals, saves, and a pace that felt like a 100m sprint in the Olympics from Usain Bolt, but Paraguay took the lead into the middle frame and it was all the difference they needed to overcome the Chileans. Chile began the scoring frenzy with the first goal but they could not keep up with the eventual winners. Late strikes from Chile tried to inspire a comeback but it was not in the cards. The win has Paraguay at the top of their group, Group A, with two wins in two matches. Paraguay will try to make it 3-3 against Bolivia on Wednesday. It was the first match of the tournament for Chile and they will build on this and use the lessons they learned against Bolivia on Tuesday.
Fast starts are no stranger to beach soccer, but Chile and Paraguay began on a tear. It took just over two minutes for the teams to alternate goals and score a three times. Duran scored first for the Chileans but the Paraguayans were calculated in their strikes, scoring two straight goals to surge ahead 2-1. A penalty kick awarded to S. Amarilla for Paraguay netted the next goal, leaving the score at 3-1 for La Albirroja going into the second period. The National Selections were showing off their talent and legs as they both took shots at goal from distance and sweetly struck a number of shots, but the goalies had pride of their own and did their job admirabley, saving every shot in the middle frame, going into the heart of match. With the middle 12 minutes coming to an end, neither team had scored again and the match went into the final frame with the Red and Whites up 3-1.
The final period started like the opening period, with goals from both teams and just as it looked like Paraguay was going to run away with proceedings, leading 4-1 after their first minute goal, La Roja replied with their own strike, the second of the day from Duran, on the restart and the score was 4-2 for the Paraguayans. A two goal lead is something many teams are comfortable with, as it is still too close for their liking, especially in beach soccer, and Paraguay made sure to net at least one more, which they did on the second goal of the day for P. Moran, leaving the score at 5-2.The scoring did not stop with the seventh goal of the match, and Paraguay again scored quickly, to take the lead to four goals at 6-2. A hat-trick for P. Moran was just icing on the cake as he scored late in the period to put Paraguay up 7-2. When the final horn sounded, the Paraguayans had deservedly taken the three points and victory by way of a 7-3 score.
Goals: 0-1: Duran, min. 10 (1); 1-1: P. Moran, min. 10 (1); 2-1: J. Lopez, min. 9 (1); 3-1: S. Amarilla, min. 1 (1); 4-1: A. Rolon, min. 11 (3); 4-2: Duran, min. 11 (3); 5-2: P. Moran, min. 9 (3); 6-2: J. Lopez, min. 6 (3); 7-2: P. Moran, min. 5 (3); 7-3: Belaunde, min. 3 (3).
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2015 – CONMEBOL QUALIFIER MANTA (ECUADOR)
Results Today:
Monday 20.04.15
13:00 – Peru 7-4 Venezuela (Group B)
14:15 – Colombia 1-0 (aet) Bolivia (Group A)
15:30 – Brazil 6-3 Uruguay (Group B)
16:45 – Paraguay 7-3 Chile (Group A)
Upcoming Matches:
Tuesday 21.04.15
13:00 – Uruguay vs Venezuela (Group B)
14:15 – Chile vs Bolivia (Group A)
15:30 – Argentina vs Peru (Group B)
16:45 – Ecuador vs Colombia (Group A)
