Day 4 in Recife was headlined by an overtime win for Parguay over Chile and close calls for Brazil and Argentina over Uruguay and Bolivia
Late dramatics help give Paraguay overtime win
The 4-3 overtime victory for Paraguay over Chile was close from start to finish, however a great final three minutes in the last period gave them enough to secure overtime and their third win in three games. Paraguay remained undefeated, even after their clash with the Lone Stars. Paraguay started quickly but Chile took control on the final period, only to see their two goal lead dissipate as Paraguay remained calm and tied things up late, only to score again late in overtime to get the two points that come with an overtime victory and remain undefeated. The win means Paraguay will go into their match against Brazil on Thursday, still without a loss. Chile will look to earn their second win against Bolivia on Thursda y.
Paraguay controlled possession early in the opening period and looked to control matters, however Chile did not get overpowered and the first minutes went scoreless. The action was fast an end-to-end but the lack of goals was not from lack of effort as both sides saw their chances fall just short and going into the final minutes of the frame, the score was still tied at 0. Benitez maintained the high energy for the Paraguayans and that paid off in the closing minutes of the frame, giving Paraguay to 1-0 lead which would hold until going into the middle frame. Paraguay again came out firing, as determined a team as there has been in the tournament though at the outset, nothing fell. The Lone Stars continued to play their game and eventually connected on a goal to tie matters at one nearly midway through the match. Despite the concerted efforts rom both teams, the score did not change leading to a tie at the end of the middle frame, 1-1.
The final period began with both sides attacking the goal, but matters remains square for the opening minutes. The excitement escalated every minute as both sides could not catch the other team off guard and the period remained goalless and tied at 1. The game began to open up and shots were flying off defenders and the goal posts and the deciding goal looked to be seconds away. The Chileans dedication to the attacks and offense started paying off as they scored two goals in the middle of the final frame to take the seemingly demanding two goal lead at 3-1. That lead would prove unsafe as the Albirroja scored two late and quick goals to square the score at 3 with only two minutes left. There was not a chance a score the winner and the game headed into overtimed tied at three. The Paraguayans once again used late action to score and scored the deciding goal in the last minute of overtime to take the victory and two points after the 4-3 win.
Goals: 1-0: Benítez, min. 1(1); 1-1: Medalla, min. 8 (2); 1-2: Medalla, min. 5 (3): 1-3: Belaunde, min. 5 (3); 2-3: Rolón, min. 4 (3); 3-3: López, min. 2 (3); 4-3: López, min. 0 (et).
Brazil sweats out tough win
The 5-4 victory for Brazil over Uruguay was maybe a bit tighter than expected but it was as close a game as you could have wanted from any two hungry teams. Brazil began slow in their first match of the tournament, going down 3-0 to Chile but they started quickly in this one, going up 3-0. They also saw their advantage completely disappear but the South American giants stayed strong and eventually distanced themselves from the opportunistic Uruguay side. The win keeps Brazil on top of the table with three points in all three matches, as the other undefeated team today, Paraguay, won in overtime, only earning two points. Brazil will next face fellow leaders, Paraguay on Thursday.
World champions know how to dig themselves out of a hole as well as start fast and the latter was true for Brazil in the opening of the match against Uruguay as they scored twice to put Los Charruas on their heels. The goals from Daniel and Fernando DDI were technically sound and showcased how anyone on the Brazilian side can score from almost anywhere on the pitch. A third goal was added for good measure as the Verde-Amarela took a solid 3-0 lead into the first break. The Celeste knew they had to take advantage of the direct kicks they were earning, but until the middle of the match, they had yet to capitalize, but Marcelo got his team on the board with a brilliant strike, the first of the second period, to pull the Uruguayans to within two, at 3-1. The excitement was by no means dull but the goals did not come come for either selection early on. The Garra Celeste were not happy to get just one goal back and they added another goal late in the period to pull to within one goal at 3-2.
Uruguay solidified their defense in the early minutes of the final period, and even struck again on offense to inch closer to the big upset, leaving them only one goal behind less than a minute into the frame at 4-3. The Canarinha kept their heads and added another goal to their tally, bringing back a two goal lead, this time at 5-3, still early in the period. The Uruguayans inched closer on a strike from Junior to get within 5-4 and despite a flurry of last minute chances, they could not get any closer and the Brazilians held on for the close win, 5-4.
Goals: 1-0: Daniel, min. 9 (1); 2-0: Fernando DDI, min. 6 (1); 3-0: Rodrigo, min. 3 (1); 3-1: Marcelo, min. 8 (2); 3-2: Fabricio, min. 2 (2); 4-2: Rodrigo, min. 2 (2); 4-3: Oli, min. 11 (3); 5-3: Bruno Xavier, min. 10 (3); 5-4: Junior, min. 4 (3).
Argentina breaks through for first win
A 3-1 win for Argentina over Bolivia was exactly what they needed to jumpstart their chances in the tournament. Argentina started slow but just a tad quicker than Bolivia and used tactical offense to hit their first goal and then were on the right end of a last second goal in the middle frame before adding to their lead early in the third period. Bolivia was forced to play a man down for much of the match, but despite that disadvantage, they made the Argentinians a tad nervous when they mounted a mini comeback. The win was the first for Argentina and they will build on that for their next match against Uruguay on Thursday. Bolivia played a tough and admirable match but will look for their first win against Chile on Thursday.
The two had began the tournament by playing competitively in every match, for long stretches at least but they knew they could rebound if they could score first and keep the pressure on the opponent. Early pressure was put on the international beach soccer rookies, Bolivia, as they took an early red card and were forced to play a man-down. Argentina capitalized, on a beautiful and composed bicycle from Sirico to take the 1-0 lead. Neither team gained any extraordinary advantage the rest of the period, and the frame ended with the 1-0 lead for Argentina. The defensive intensity continued for both teams and Los Gauchos held onto their lead going into the heart of the match, but La Verde were pushing the attack, unfruitfully however. The Argentine side found the back of the net again in the final seconds of the middle frame, to double the lead and put Argentina up 2-0 going into the last 12 minutes.
The Albiceleste did not need long to put their side up even more in the final period, as Sirico scored his second of the match, seconds into the 3rd, to put his squad up 3-0. The Bolivians fought back and stuck pay dirt early in the period when Pedro scored his teams’first goal of the match, which put them only two goals down at 3-1 heading into the heart of the period. Bolivia kept a sturdy back line and did not allow things to get out of hand as the Argentine Selection looked a little more fresh and ready to attack, but the score remained 3-1 going into the minutes of the match. Argentina was lucky that the late Bolivian chances were just short, or wide and the final buzzer sounded with Argentina up 3-1.
Goals: 1-0: Sirico, min. 8 (1); 2-0: Medero, min. 0 (2); 3-0: Sirico, min. 11 (3); 3-1: Pedro, min. 9 (3).
COPA SUDAMERICANA DE BEACH SOCCER – RECIFE 2015
Match results:
Wednesday, February 4th, 2014
13:00 – Paraguay 4-3 (aet) Chile
14:15 – Brazil 5-4 Uruguay
15:30 – Argentina 3-1 Bolivia
Upcoming matches:
Thursday, February 5th, 2014
13:00 – Chile vs. Bolivia
14:15 – Paraguay vs. Brazil
15:30 – Uruguay vs. Argentina
