Spain bring the EBSL party to Galicia after world champions Portugal edge Greece
Hosts Spain began the second leg of the Euro Beach Soccer League in Sanxenxo with a convincing 7-2 success against Romania to close an exhilarating day of beach soccer.
Joaquin Alonso’s men effectively booked their place at the Superfinal in Catania by topping the group in Moscow but still put on a show for the throngs of home fans in Galicia as R. Dris and Kuman weighed in with a brace each.
Bogdan and Zaharia provided fleeting moments of resistance for Romania, who will look to pick up points against Ukraine and France in Division A, Group One this weekend.
In front of a packed home crowd, the five-time champions started brightly and led courtesy of a sublime Kuman chip from a set-piece two minutes in before Antonio doubled the lead in acrobatic fashion.
R. Dris found the top corner from range prior to the interval and, while Bogdan got Romania up and running shortly afterwards, Antonio turned and fired in from close range as the goals flowed on Silgar Beach.
Midfielder R. Dris was on target again before the final 12 minutes while Zaharia kept Romania in touch with a free-kick soon after.
However, Cintas quickly responded for Spain and, after Kuman struck the post, Spain were initially frustrated in their attempts to extend the lead by a stubborn, hard-working Romanian side.
The visitors missed the chance to make life awkward for Spain when Cristian saved from Bogdan late on, with the impressive Kuman rounding off the scoring to send the Sanxenxo crowds home happy.
Goals: 0-1: Kuman, min. 9 (1); 0-2: Antonio, min. 9 (1); 0-3: R. Dris, min. 6 (1); 1-3: Bogdan, min. 9 (2); 1-4: Antonio, min. 7 (2); 1-5: R. Dris, min. 4 (2); 2-5: Zaharia, min. 11 (3); 2-6: Cintas, min. 10 (3); 2-7: Kuman, min. 0 (3)
World’s best Portugal grind down stubborn Greece
World and European champions Portugal were made to work hard for their 6-3 win against Greece as Mario Narciso’s men moved level on points with Switzerland with six.
Portugal – who moved to number one in the world for the first time following Euro Beach Soccer Cup success in Belgrade – saw Kafantaris and Biris cancel out their first two goals as Greece provided stubborn opposition.
But eventually, Narciso’s side demonstrated their pedigree as Belchior, Jose Maria (2) and Madjer ensured the points for the Division A, Group Two favourites.
Goals: 0-1: Jordan, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Kafantaris, min. 11 (2); 1-2: Alan, min. 8 (2); 2-2: Biris, min. 8 (2); 2-3: Belchior, min. 3 (2); 2-4: Jose Maria, min. 1 (2); 2-5: Madjer, min. 8 (3); 2-6: Jose Maria, min. 8 (3); 3-6: Karakasis, min. 0 (3)
Swiss prove too Ott to handle for Germany
Switzerland carried on where they left off in Moscow, dispatching Germany 10-4 with the help of a five-goal haul from in-form striker Noel Ott.
The Swiss were denied top spot in Russia by the hosts on penalties but saw Ott rattle in half of their strikes on the opening day in Sanxenxo while captain Dejan Stankovic weighed in with a hat-trick.
Germany showed spirit in the final period to stay within reach but ultimately found themselves comfortably dispatched by a slick Swiss side.
Chalupa Czechs Dutch progress
Czech Republic claimed the early advantage in Division B Group One as they held off a spirited Netherlands side to claim a 3-2 victory on Friday.
With both sides making their debut in the 2016 Euro Beach Soccer League, the Czechs led through a Kampman own-goal and Vyhnal in the first and second period respectively only for De Wit and Donker to level either side of the second interval.
But Chalupa proved the hero, slotting home the winner late on to send his side top of a fledgling group that also includes Norway.
Goals: 1-0, Kampman OG, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Vyhnal, min. 4 (2); 2-1: Donkers, min. 0 (2); 2-2: Donker, min. 7 (3); 3-2: Chalupa, min. 6 (3)
Voitok helps Ukraine past luckless France
Ukraine recovered from an early setback to maintain France’s difficult run of results in the Euro Beach Soccer League with a 5-1 victory on Friday.
Les Blues lost all three matches in Moscow last weekend and, despite taking the lead through Marques early in the second period, the men in yellow quickly recovered.
Runners-up last year, Ukraine quickly demonstrated their quality as a Voitok hat-trick intertwined with goals from Medved and Zborovskyi kept them level on points with Spain.
Ukraine and Spain’s clash on Sunday could well decide who tops Group One.
Goals: 0-1: Marques, min. 11 (2); 1-1: Voitok, min. 4 (2); 2-1: Medved, min. 3 (2); 3-1: Voitok, min. 11 (3); 4-1: Zborovskyi, min. 9 (3); 5-1: Voitok, min. 8 (3)
Three Lions off to a flyer in Sanxenxo
England got off to a strong start in Sanxenxo as they swept aside tricky Andorran opposition 5-1.
Things seemed pretty much under control for the more experienced English when Lawson swept the Three Lions ahead midway through the first period.
But David Jones’ lads failed to extend their lead initially and Andorra took advantage of that to begin growing in the game.
After some goal chances, Neira finally equalized for the Pyrenean side just seconds into the third period, prompting a response from the English.
Paradoxically, that stroke seemed exactly what England needed to truly get in control of the game. The Andorra challenge spurred England on as they registered four goals in the last period to secure the points.
Goals: 1-0: Lawson, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Neira, min. 11 (3); 2-1: Clarke, min. 9 (3); 3-1: Morris, min. 8 (3); 4-1: O’Neill, min. 6 (3); 5-1: Lawson, min. 5 (3);
Results
England 5-1 Andorra
Czech Republic 3-2 Netherlands
Switzerland 10-4 Germany
Ukraine 5-1 France
Greece 3-6 Portugal
Romania 2-7 Spain
Tomorrow’s fixtures
Turkey v Andorra (13.00)
Norway v Netherlands (14.15)
Switzerland v Greece (15.30)
Ukraine v Romania (16.45)
Portugal v Germany (18.00)
Spain v France (19.15)
