Heavyweights sweat out opening day wins

Drama in every match, early and late, left Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Ecuador day 1 winners

Brazil impressive in opening win

 

The 7-3 win for Brazil over Peru was very thorough and showed why they are among the favourites to win this event. Peru began strong and showed heart, playing with more intensity, but it was not enough. Brazil always sees the best from their competition and that is how this match started, however Brazil had answers and came on strong at the end of the first, early second and in the middle of the final 12 minutes. The win gives Brazil three points and the top spot in their group, which they will hope to build on going into their next match against Uruguay on Monday. Peru will need to sustain their energy in the next match and they hope to do so on Monday against Venezuela. 

 

Peru began the match quicker than the Brazilians as they saw the best chances at an opening period goal, but the movements and the strategies of the Brazilians slowly began to break down the Peruvian defense. The superior play of the Green and Yellow eventually led to a late first period goal. The Brazilians tacked on another goal in the opening frame, the last from Anderson, which took the score to 2-0 going into the first breal. In the middle frame, Peru showed more signs of life as they scored their first, but not before allowing a third goal to Brazil. The score sat at 4-1 heading into the final frame, after another Brazilian goal.

 

The Peruvians began the final frame trying to spoil the Brazilian party as they scored another goal, bringing the score to 4-2. It was at that point that Brazil rattled off three straights goals to push the lead to 7-2. Peru fought back and took another goal back from Brazil and tried to claw their way closer but the four goal deficit at 7-3 proved to be too much and the final whistle sounded with the Brazilians up by the same score. 

 

Goals: 1-0: Datinha, min. 4 (1); 2-0: Anderson, min. 2 (1); 3-0: Rodrigo, min. 11 (2); 3-1: Velezmoro, min. 9 (2); 4-1: Sydney, min. 8 (2); 4-2: Vidal, min. 9 (3); 5-2: Sydney, min. 4 (3); 6-2: Datinha, min. 3 (3); 7-2: Gabriel, min. 1 (3); 7-3: Zagaceta, min. 1 (3).

 

Paraguay comes on late for comeback and three points

 

The 5-4 win for Paraguay over Colombiadid not seem like it would be a victory at all for most of the match. The Colombian Selection started firing first and took the role of aggressor very seriously. However the Paraguayans were able to stay just close enough to pounce in the final minutes of the match to secure the come from behind win. The win give Paraguay the lead in Group A and they will want more points in their next match against Chile on Monday. The loss will be a tough one to take for Colombia as they led for most of the match but they will look to rebound on Monday against Bolivia. 

 

The first period began with both sides putting most of their effort on the defensive end and that worked wonders, just not for the coming of goals. That strategy lasted into the heart of the period, but at that point, the teams exploded for goals. Colombia scoring first, but Paraguay had an answer. Before things were said and done in the opening frame, Los Cafeteros had built a 3-1 lead. La Albirroja took less than a minute to show to the Colombians that they meant business in the middle frame, scoring to put the score at 3-2 for Colombia. The Coffee Growers replied with the two goal advantage restoring shot, but it was the Paraguayans who had the last laugh in the middle frame as they scored the final goal, putting the score even closer, at 4-3 for Colombia, going into the last period. 

 

Paraguay started the final frame by dominating possession and the shots on goal, butr as is almost always the case in beach soccer, things shifted quickly as the Colombians turned a saved shot on their own end into an excellent chance on the other end, but that opportunity also went missing and the score remained the same going into the final minutes of the match, Colombia winning by a score of 4-3. The first goal of the frame came from the team that many had picked to secure a spot in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 in Portugal. Paraguay. The goal came with six minutes remaining and put the score at 4-4 going into the last minutes of the match. The stalemate did not last long as P. Moran scored on a great header that gave his Paraguayan side their first lead of the match at 5-4, which is how it would end.

 

Goals: 0-1: Jorge S., min. 6 (1);1-1: O. Zayas, min. 4 (1); 1-2: Ortega, min. 1 (1); 1-3: Cabrera, min. 1 (1); 2-3: A. Rolon, min. 11 (2); 2-4: Camilo, min. 10 (2); 3-4: A. Rolon, min. 1 (2); 4-4: J. Lopez, min. 6 (3); 5-4: P. Moran, min. 4 (3).

 

Argentina avoid upset to keep pace in Group B

 

The 7-6 win for Argentina over Venezuela was close, just as tight as the final score indicated, but what the score does not show is how tough Venezuela fought from start to finish. It was not a fluke that Venezuela took the lead, and held onto it for a long stretch before succumbing to Argentina, but the Burgundy clawed back to get within one goal again, but the experience of Argentina prevailed and they held on for the three points. The win helps Argentina keep pace with Brazil in Group B and they will need the momentum to  keep up. The loss showed the mental fortitude that Venezuela has and they will hope to build on that in their next match on Monday against Peru, also losers on day 1. 

 

The early minutes of this match were proof that the level of beach soccer play is increasing everywhere and that the typical giants of the sport are not safe. Venezuela came out with a chip on their shoulder and turned that into two quick goals, seeming to shock the favourites. The shell shock wore off and the Argentine side scored their first from Hilaire F. to half the deficit. The Venezuelans did not crumble and in fact score another, the second of the day for Vaamonde, putting the tally at 3-1 for Venezuela. A shot sent skyward on a direct kick miraculously went in to give Levi his first goal for the Argentine side, making the score 3-2, still for the Burgundy. The goal outburst did not stop there as Levi scored his second of the period to level things at three and further give the Albiceleste the momentum. The winds of change had more than shifted as Argentina scored their third straight goal to take a 4-3 advantage into the first break. The middle 12 minutes saw Argentina quietly build their, albeit by one goal and the frame ended with Argentina up 5-3. 

 

The first goal of the closing frame came almost instantaneously as the Albiceleste continued to get stronger and limit the mistakes they were making earlier.  Those simple facts did not qualm the beliefs  of the Vinotinto as they scored on an early penalty kick to get back to within one goal at 6-5. The pace was up-and-down, with Argentina wanting to slow the game down and slow down or stop the Venezuelan momentum, while Valenzuela did not want time to wind down and have them be on the wrong the side of the score. The period continued with top-flight action but Argentina had built a big enough lead to hold off the underdog Venezuelans and when the final seconds had ticked of the clock, the Argentine Selcection had won by a score of 7-6.

 

Goals: 1-0: Camargo, min. 10 (1); 2-0: Vaamonde, min. 9 (1); 2-1: Hilaire F., min. 5 (1); 3-1: Vaaamonde, min. 5 (1); 3-2: Levi, min. 4 (1); 3-3: Levi, min. 3 (1); 3-4: Leguizamon, min. 1 (1); 3-5: Lopez, min. 8 (2); 3-6: Sirico, min. 11 (3); 4-6: Muñoz, min. 9 (3); 5-6: Ramirez, min. 8 (3); 5-7: Medero, min. 2 (3); 6-7: Landaeta, min.0 (3).

 

Ecuador delights fans with late goals and win

 

The 4-3 victory for Ecuador over Bolivia was an instant classic that finished off a day full of exciting matches. Bolivia started quicker and took the lead for more than a period, but Ecuador rallied to take the lead themselves. That lead turned into another deficit as Bolivia had more left in the tank, however the Ecuadorians charged late to take the lead for good in the final frame, which more than kept the fans happy. The win gives Ecuador three points and leaves them at the top of the group along with fellow opening day winners, Paraguay. Ecuador will next face Colombia on Tuesday. Bolivia fought hard and also deserved a win but they will have to wait until Monday afternoon to redeem themselves in a clash against Colombia. 

 

Bolivia started on fire, first by scoring and then by quieting the raucous home crowd. The latter did not last long as the fans in Manta cheered their home team to life and on cue, the Ecuadorians began more shots on goal and better ones at that. Los Amarillos were getting closer and closer to scoring the equalizer, but La Verde were doing very well to stay in front and block most of the dangerous shots. When the first frame came to an end, there had only been the lone Bolivian goal and the Green nervously took the 1-0 lead into the second period. The hosts continued to flash shots across the front of goal but they were initially unable to fine the allusive equalizer. Ecuador did find the score leveling goal and the locals erupted in screams of joy when Moreira connected on his shot after juking the Bolivian goalie. The next minutes of the period were played to a stalemate until the Ecuadorian captain, Gallegos, scored to put his side up for the first time at 2-1. Bolivia charged ahead and score twice more in the closing minutes of the period to take a 3-2 lead into the final break.

 

Drama is the name of the game and almost scoring to almost giving up a goal on the other end was a theme for both teams in the early moments of the final period, but the close calls did not secure either team a goal, the equalizer for Ecuador or the insurance goal for Bolivia, until the Ecuadorians found the equalizer at the halfway point in the period. It was the second goal of the day for Gallegos and it tied matters at 3-3.  Ecuador would not have been happy without a win and they were determined to take the lead back, which they did in the closing minutes of the match on a strike from Bailon. La Tri held onto the slim one goal advantage and eventually secured the 4-3 win. 

 

Goals: 1-0: Zapata, min. 11 (1);1-1: Moreira, min. 6 (2);  1-2: Gallegos, min. 1 (2); 2-2: Guardia, min. 1 (2); 3-2: Aguilar, min. 0 (2); 3-3: Gallegos, min. 6 (3); 3-4: Bailon, min. 4 (3).

 

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2015 – CONMEBOL QUALIFIER MANTA (ECUADOR)

 

 Results Today:

Sunday 19.04.15

13:00 – Brazil 7-3 Peru (Group B)

14:15 – Paraguay 5-4 Colombia (Group A)

15:30 – Venezuela 6-7 Argentina (Group B)

16:45 – Bolivia 3-4 Ecuador (Group A)

 

Upcoming Matches:

Monday 20.04.15

13:00 – Peru vs Venezuela (Group B)

14:15 – Colombia vs Bolivia (Group A)

15:30 – Brazil vs Uruguay (Group B)

16:45 – Paraguay vs Chile (Group A)

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