Italy finishes 3rd over Spain in just one of 8 great matches on the final day of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 – Europe Qualifier Jesolo
Poland turns up heat in 3rd period for win
The 3-2 win for Poland over Greece was so close that nothing was decided until the final period and final minutes. The two sides exchanged defensive stops through two periods before the Red and Whites took control late in the game, however Greek did not lie down and attempted the valiant rally but in the end they could not get over the hump. The win gives Poland 15th place in the qualifier and keeps them in the discussion as one of the most competitive sides. Greece had a great beach soccer season, moving from Division B in the Euro Beach Soccer League to Division A, and finishing 16th in this tournament is still something to brag about as Europe as a whole is arguably considered one of the best continents for beach soccer.
Greece and Poland both looked for the early advantage as they wanted to finish the qualifier on a high note. The Polish were asking more questions of the Greek defense and keeper but going into the middle of the period neither side had scored. Both teams went into the second period being held scoreless as the first period ended tied at 0. The first period may have seen the Red and Whites press issues but the middle frames’ opening minutes belonged to Greece as they tried to take matters into their own hands, but the opening minutes had them frustrated with how many quality shots they missed or hit the posts and crossbar. Poland did not fret and turned their attack on also but like the Polish defense, the Pirate Ship maintained a stiff backline too, and going into the final minutes of the period the goals had not yet began to come. The period finished with both sides still looking for that elusive first goal with the score tied at 0.
Poland finally broke through with a great run and finish from Piechnik that opened up a huge string of scoring. Poland got two more late goals from Taraszkowski and Ziober that set the score at 3-0. Greece rebounded as they wanted to get in on the scoring and Paris netted two goals, back-to-back, that put the score at 3-2 for the Polish side. The Greeks tried desperately to complete the comeback but the deficit was too large when facing the stout Polish defense. Poland did well to earn the big lead and when the whistle sounded they had withstood Greece and got the 3-2 victory.
Goals: 1-0: Piechnik, min. 4 (3); 2-0: Taraszkowski, min. 3 (3); 3-0: Ziober, min. 2 (3); 3-1: Paris, min. 2 (3); 3-2: Paris, min. 1 (3).
Azerbaijan clinches 13th after finishing off France late
Azerbaijan’s 3-1 win over France was tight and the two sides were so equally matched that you could not slip a piece of paper between them. Azerbaijan took a bite of the cherry first and scored but France followed with their first goal. The defense took over for stretches and allowed the offenses to recalibrate their settings for an emotional final period that saw Azerbaijan pull away and do just enough to get the victory. The win gives Azerbaijan 13th place in all of Europe, while France finishes the competition in 14th place.
The opening minutes were full of goals as Azerbaijan nailed home the first goal but France quickly answered with the equalizer from Pagis, which knotted the score at 1. The up and down action swing in the direction of Azerbaijan as they scored with just over a minute left in the frame to restore their one goal lead at 2-1 going into the first break. France was not happy with their first period deficit and started the middle frame by playing with an edge and attitude. The shots were coming and going but they did not fall at the outset. Azerbaijan was not able to score in the middle period as they were using all of their energy to withstand the French attacks, and the period ended with the Azerbaijani still up 2-1.
France began the final frame on the defensive as Azerbaijan was ready to change their strategy from the very defensive strategy. France stood their ground and found their own offensive rhythm, which led to a slug fest of shots between the two teams, but nothing connected in the early going. Things got very physical with neither side wanting to budge and the tone was set for an exciting finale to the 13th place match. The first goal of the period came from the Azerbaijan goal poacher, Hikmat, who nailed home his teams’ third goal, going up 3-1 with five minutes remaining. The Azerbaijan defense held tough and did not allow France to get back into the game and the whistle sounded with Azerbaijan up 3-1.
Goals: 0-1: Sabir, min.9 (1); 1-1: Pagis, min. 7 (1); 1-2: Asif, min. 1 (1); 1-3: Hikmat, min. 5 (3).
Estonia earns 11th after thrilling penalty shoot-out
The 1(2)-1(0) win for Estonia over England was valiant and had much more action than the two regulation goals indicate. Estonia jumped out early on the short-handed English, who were selecting from only eight players, but the Three Lions responded with their own goal and showed fight to take the match into overtime and then penalties. Estonia and England both missed gilt edged chances to score and win in overtime but Estonia eventually prevailed in the penalties. The win places Estonia as the 11th best team in Europe and England finishes the tournament in 12th place.
England and Estonia were lucky to have such experienced keepers in Tammeväli, Estonia, and Webb, England, as the two were able to keep the score level in spite of all the shots that were flying. The pace was very fast as both teams were cruising from end-to-end trying to find the first goal but the opening period ended with the score still tied at 0, with the goalies admirably doing their jobs. The action in the middle frame started almost immediately as the kick-off nearly scored for Estonia. England saved the shot but only a minute later, Estonia was awarded a penalty kick which Kuuse connected to put the Blueshirts up 1-0. England was in unfamiliar territory as they had taken the early lead in many of their matches, but they responded with a goal almost solely set-up and finished by Temple, which leveled things at 1. The goal did not sit well with Estonia as they cranked up their energy and put more pressure on the Three Lions, but the goals did not come as they would have hoped, with the period ending tied at 1.
The match still hung in the balance and after a period of rest, England’s starting keeper and captain of the match, Webb, used his leadership and quick reflexes to make sure Estonia did not take the lead again. The English defense needed to be in top form because of the number of shots and runs that Estonia was using to press matters. England nearly broke the deadlock on many occasions but the posts, or keepers, or defenders of Estonia were always in the right place at the right time. The passion was clear as nothing separated the teams heading into the final minutes and seconds. Nothing could be decided in regulation and the match headed to extra time tied at 1. The action was non-stop in overtime but a crucial moment was when Estonia’s Marmor was given a free kick from just outside the penalty area, which he missed and the game went into penalties.
Goals: 1-0: Kuuse, min.10 (2); 1-1: Temple, min. 8 (2).
Penalties: Truusalu: goal; Day: saved; Tammo: goal; Temple: miss.
Turkey kicks and claws to 9th place
The 5-4 victory for Turkey over Germany was an amazing spectacle as Turkey went up, lost the lead on three separate occasions but managed to fight through Germany for the win. The third period was the most dramatic as Turkey was only winning by one goal but they managed to score twice, but they gave up a late goal to the Germans that made the final minutes even more exciting. The win gives Turkey 9th place in the qualifier and they can leave Jesolo on a high note. Germany played extremely well in the tournament and finish as one of Europe’s ten best, in 10th place.
Telling one end of the pitch from another and which sides were playing where was extremely difficult in the opening period as both teams spent so much time in the opponents’ territory. Shots flew across goal and over goal and into the arms of the keepers but going into the final minutes of the period, there had been no goals to show for it until Baris nailed home a spectacular bicycle kick to give the Crescent-Stars their first lead but much more action would follow as Biermann countered with the equalizer for Germany. Not a minute later, Turkey scored again, the second from Baris, to regain the one goal lead, and the period ended with Turkey up 2-1. The Germans began the middle frame on a tear and leveled the score at 2 on a penalty kick from Olli. The match raced on and into the final minutes of the period the score had not changed despite charges from both teams. Germany’s penalty kick proved to be their only goal of the period but Turkey took the lead again, for the third time, to go up 3-2 into the final frame.
Germany may have been losing to open the final period, but they did not look worried as they were loose and comfortable, it especially showed as they pushed their offense forward and scored the periods’ first goal, on a strike from Weirauch, which leveled the score, for the third time. Cem of Turkey claimed the fourth Turkish goal on a spectacular touch and finish to give his team the 4-3 lead. Turkey continued their march and Adil added to their lead when he struck a shot from distance that fooled the German keeper, as it swerved in the air, which gave the Turkish squad a two goal lead at 5-3. Turkey allowed one more goal to get past them, a beautiful finish from Weirauch to put the score at 5-4, but Germany would get no closer and the match finished with that score.
Goals: 1-0: Baris, min.2 (1); 1-1: Biermann, min. 1 (1); 2-1: Baris, min. 0 (1); 2-2; Olli, min. 10 (2); 3-2: Erkhan, min. 0 (2); 3-3: Weirauch, min. 10 (3); 4-3: Cem, min. 8 (3); 5-3: Adil, min. 5 (3); 5-4: Weirauch, min. 0 (3).
Hungary blows away Romania in offensive outburst
The 15-7 win for Hungary over Romania was the highest scoring match of tournament as both teams struck pay dirt multiple times including hat-tricks from both teams. Hungary began fast and never looked back. The Hungarians never trailed and despite giving up seven goals of their own they were never worried with the potent Romania attack. The win for Hungary puts them in 7th place for the qualifier. Romania took part in the two of the highest scoring matches of the event but were on the wrong side of both of them, although they finished in 8th overall.
Hungary wasted no time in going straight at the Romanian defense in hopes of a goal. The goals came, multiple in the first three minutes as Ughy hit twice and Badalik scored in between the two goals from the Hungarian captain. With the score sitting at 3-0, Maci of the Tricolorii took things into his own hands, or legs as may be said, by creating everything on his own en route to Romania’s first goal, bringing his team back to within two goals. The two goal deficit quickly turned back into three when Besenyei slotted home a penalty kick to make the score 4-1. Hungary continued to feast on the Romanian defense when Ughy scored his third goal on an absolutely ruthless rocket that nearly went through the net, putting the score at 5-1. Maci was not finished with his first period scoring either as he scored another of his magnificent overheads, cut the Hungarian advantage back to three goals at 5-2, which is how the period would end. Romania’s fortunes changed early in the middle frame as they scored early and found themselves in much more open space than they had in the first period. The defenses were still nowhere to be found in the middle frame as four more goals were score, four from Hungary and one from Romania and the period ended with Hungary up 9-3.
Romania had all the work to do to salvage the match and they began the final period by scoring to get to four goals in comparison to the nine for the Golden Team. Hungary did not like the idea of allowing any kind of comeback and Turos scored for the first time in the match to put the score at 10-4. As if they were toying with each other, the teams began scoring again, almost at will, the instant the other scored and going into the final minutes the score stood at 11-5 for Hungary. The teams added more goals, and when the final buzzer sounded the score 15-7 in favour of Hungary.
Goals: 1-0: Ughy, min.11 (1); 2-0: Badalik, min. 9 (1); 3-0: Ughy, min. 9 (1); 3-1: Maci, min. 7 (1); 4-1: Besenyei, min. 6 (1); 5-1: Ughy, min. 6 (1); 5-2: Maci, min. 4 (1); 5-3: Boata, min. 11 (3); 6-3: Badalik, min. 4 (2); 7-3: Simonyi, min. 2 (2); 8-3: Ughy, min. 2 (2); 9-3: Besenyei, min. 0 (2); 9-4: I.Poste, min. 8 (3); 10-4: Turos, min. 8 (3); 10-5; Maci, min. 6 (3); 11-5: Besenyei, min. 6 (3); 12-5: Sebestyen, min. 3 (3); 13-5; Turos, min. 1 (3); 13-6: Jimmy, min. 1 (3); 14-6: Besenyei, min. 1 (3); 15-6: Berkes, min. 0 (3); 15-7: Boata, min. 0 (3).
Belarus needs penalty shoot-out to earn 5th place
The 2(3)-2(1) penalties win for Belarus over Ukraine did not disappoint as nearly everyone left happy, except Ukraine. The game and momentum went from one team to another and both played contrasting styles of play that complimented each other completely. Belarus struck first but Ukraine quickly answered and the game boiled down not to who wanted it more, because they were both equal on that front but more as to who had the last shot and in the penalties, Belarus did. The win puts Belarus in 5th place in the tournament and all of Europe, while Ukraine also finished a very respectable 6th place.
The two teams tried to rattle each other and feel out what the defenses’ game plans were and the teams remained scoreless until Belarus’ Bryshtsel scored on an excellent bicycle kick that started the scoring. No other goals were scored in the period and Belarus headed to the first break up 1-0. Ukraine did not take long, less than a minute in the middle frame, to score the equalizer on a bobbling shot from Korniichuk. The score remained tied going into the final minutes of the period, with both sides being content with waiting for a break in the defense of the opposite team. Ukraine was unlucky to strike the post late in the frame, which would have given them all the momentum and more importantly, the lead. Both teams could not find the lead in the middle frame and the match headed to the third period tied at 1 goal apiece.
Belarus and Ukraine were both using contrasting styles as Ukraine was taking more of an attack-first approach while Belarus was content to rely on their tightly-knit defense. The two approaches worked well for the teams as they were still stuck in a deadlock until three minutes into the final period, when Zborovskyi scored on a penalty kick to put his side up 2-1. Belarus used another goal from Bryshtsel, their only scorer on the day, to tie things at 2 with just under five minutes remaining in the match. The Blue and Yellows could not find the deciding goal and neither could Belarus and the match went into extra time tied at 2. Nothing could be decided in overtime either as the match went into penalties.
Goals: 0-1: Bryshtsel, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Korniichuk, min. 11 (2); 2-1: Zborovskyi, min. 9 (3); 2-2: Bryshtsel, min. 4 (3).
Penalties:Bryshtsel: goal; Korniichuk: miss; Kanstantsinau: goal; Andrieiev: goal; Bokach: goal.
Italy takes 3rd place by dramatically edging Spain
The 4-5 win for Italy over Spain was physical, acrobatic, and pretty all wrapped into one. The two European rivals did not was to give up a goal or the right to 3rd place at any point in the match. Italy scored first and in fact took the lead three different times only to have Spain fight back with clutch goals. However, Spain did not take their first lead until very late in the match and it was only one goal, but they could not hang on as Italy scored two extremely late goals to jump ahead. The win gives Italy 3rd place in the qualifier and Spain finishes in 4th place.
Italy may not have liked the idea of playing for 3rd place and not the title but they and their fans did not show it as they started the match hot and were the more energetic team. Zurlo scored first to make the crowd go wild, but Spain responded with a shot from Antonio that tied things at 1 in the opening minutes. Italy quickly restored their lead on a goal from Ramacciotti, and the Italians could have owned an even bigger lead had they connected on a penalty kick that they were awarded. Nevertheless, the score was 2-1 for Italy going into the final minutes of the period. Spain missed their own chances as well but they connected on the last goal of the period, from Ezequiel, to go into the first break tied at 2. The two teams continued to play their game into the second period and nothing gave until a little under eight minutes remained in the period and Palmacci, who missed the penalty shot earlier, slotted home a shot that gave the Azzurri the lead for the third time. La Furia Roja were once again able to find the equalizer on a shot from almost nothing that Llorenç connected on to make the score 3-3 going into the final period.
Spain and Italy continued to play tit-for-tat with nothing separating the teams, and even the one goal difference at times not enough to allow either team to pull away or even get comfortable on offense or defense. The shots continued to fly as both teams nearly took the lead on multiple occasions and one was an Italian goal called back, but after two acrobatic saves from Del Mestre, the Italian keeper, the third time was a charm for the Spanish as they took the lead for the first time in the match, with exactly three minutes remaining. With one minute remaining Italy found the goal they needed and it tied things at 4 after a chippy exchange in front of the goal. The Italian heroics did not stop there as they scored in the final minute on a flick from Ramacciotti to put the score at 5-4, which was how the match would end.
Goals: 0-1: Zurlo, min.11 (1); 1-1: Antonio, min. 10 (1); 1-2: Ramacciotti, min. 9 (1); 2-2: Ezequiel, min. 0 (1); 2-3: Palmacci, min. 7 (2); 3-3: Llorenç, min. 0 (2); 3-4: Kuman, min. 3 (3); 4-4: Corosiniti, min. 1 (3); 4-5: Ramacciotti, min. 0 (3).
Russia adds qualifier title to their hardware
Russia’s 6-5 win was very methodical and professional as they dominated from the outset and found goals from a list of unusual suspects. Every play on their team actually scored a goal in the tournament and their starting keeper Bukhlitskiy did not play very much in the final two matches but the Russians did not miss a beat. Russia took an early and big lead but withstood some furious attacks and a big rally from the Swiss. The win gives Russia their first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier title. The Nati earned second place in the qualifier after some very valiant play over the course of 10 days.
End-to-end action ruled the opening minutes of the first period as one shot from Russia hit off the crossbar and then less than five seconds later the ball was being acrobatically saved by Russia’s goalkeeper. The Russian got off the board first with a goal from Krutikov and then in the same minute from their goalie, Chuzhkov, to go up 2-0. The rest of the period went scoreless and Russia kept their 2-0 lead going into the first break. Into the middle frame Switzerland kept finding themselves on the wrong side of fortune as the ball struck the posts and did not bounce their way, all the while Russia was maintaining control and scoring goals. Switzerland was down 4-0 at that point, and they have come back from larger deficits with their dangerous offense, and when Mo scored late in the period to bring the score to 4-1, the comeback was on. Russia would tack on another goal and take a 5-1 lead into the final frame.
The third period began how the second began, with Russia on the attack and playing like a well-oiled machine. The machine had some kinks thrown into it as the Swiss score three quick and unanswered goals to pull within one goal, the closest they had been since the first period. The Russians tried to regain their edge but Switzerland had all the momentum and confidence, despite still being down by one goal. Russia added a late goal to take a commanding two goal lead. Stankovic then added his second goal of the day to bring the Swiss to within one goal, but Russia did extremely well to hold off the furious rally and when the final buzzer sounded, the Russians were still up 6-5.
Goals: 0-1: Krutikov, min. 4 (1); 0-2: Chuzhkov, min. 4 (1); 0-3: Makarov, min. 8 (2); 0-4: Peremitin, min. 8 (2); 1-4: Mo, min. 4 (2); 1-5: Makarov, min. 2 (2); 2-5: Borer, min. 7 (3); 3-5: Mo, min. 6 (3); 4-5: Stankovic, min. 5 (3); 4-6: Shishin, min. 1 (3); 5-6: Stankovic, min. 1 (3).
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2015 – EUROPE QUALIFIER JESOLO-ITALY
Results Today:
Sunday 14.09.14
09:00 – Poland 3-2 Greece – Playoff for 15th Place
10:15 – France 1-3 Azerbaijan – Playoff for 13th Place
11:30 – Estonia 1(2)-1(0) (pen) England – Playoff for 11th Place
12:45 – Turkey 5-4 Germany – Playoff for 9th Place
14:00 – Hungary 15-7 Romania – Playoff for 7th Place
15:15 – Ukraine 2(1)-2(3) (pen) Belarus – Playoff for 5th Place
16:30 – Spain 4-5 Italy – Playoff for 3rd Place
17:45 – Switzerland 5-6 Russia – Final
Final standings
CHAMPIONS: Russia
Runner-up: Switzerland
3rd Place: Italy
4th Place: Spain
Individual awards
Best Goalkeeper: Valentin (SUI)
Top Scorer: Stankovic (SUI)
MVP: Ramacciotti (ITA)
