The fight to join the Euro Winners Cup has begun as the opening points are claimed on the Portuguese coast
The first day of the Euro Winners Challenge 2019 didn’t disappoint, as star-studded Lokomotiv netted 11, first-timers Alfarim mounted an incredible comeback against Portuguese rivals and all rounded off with a thrilling penalty shootout!
The first teams have already staked their claims to one of the eight places in the Euro Winners Cup, while others who failed to pick up points in their opening matches, now have an important task ahead of them tomorrow…
AD Buarcos 2017 8 – 3 Atletico Licata BS (Group B)
The Euro Winners Challenge got underway when local Portuguese side took on Atletico Licata in an initially tight game, which ended with the Buarcos slowly increasing the pressure to pick up the first points of the preliminary competition in Nazaré.
Mota got the local side off the mark with a fine hit after a matter of minutes, but it took just moments for the Italians to pull themselves back. Hugo Almeida netted before the first whistle, but as the match continued he ran riot to rack up a total of four goals.
Licata struggle to regain a foothold in the match, and AD Buarcos closed the game out 8-3 in the end, scoring some incredible goals to kick off the weekend in style, and take an opening three points at the top of Group B.
Atletico Licata BS will try again for some points against Napoli Patron BSC tomorrow, while AD Buarcos will face fellow Portugal side GD Sesimbra.
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CF Chelas 3 – 2 GDP Costa de Caparica (Group A)
The Portuguese sides got their Euro Winners Challenge underway with a nervous and tight game which saw few goals but was a gripping match all the same.
Fran scored first for GDP Costa de Caparica in the opening period, but it was soon cancelled out by Miguel Tavares. The score remained tied right up until the third period when Fred took the lead for Chelas, but Fran struck once again to level.
Just when extra time loomed, Luis Santos found the net with two minutes to go, grabbing the three points from Costa de Caparica and topping Group A.
The victors will face competition late-comers SC Salgueiros 08 tomorrow, while England’s Portsmouth await Costa de Caparica.
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Sporting Clube de Portugal – B 0 – 6 AO Kefalonia (Group F)
Sporting CP’s B side were hoping to secure a place along with the senior team in the Euro Winners Cup, but in their way stood a strong and experienced AO Kefalonia from Greece.
It was the men in blue who started on the front foot when Katsoulis calmly converted to take the lead. This was the only difference between the teams at the first whistle, but in the second period, Kefalonia extended their advantage thanks to a brace from Triantafylldis.
Unlike Kafantaris who put away a hat-trick, Sporting CP B were unable to find the net and the Greeks pressed, pushing the difference to six goals before the final whistle.
The Portuguese men will meet Marseille Beach Soccer tomorrow, as AO Kefalonia are set to meet Casa Benfica Caldas Rainha to continue a positive start to the campaign.
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Grupo Desportivo de Alfarim 6 – 4 GR Amigos da Paz (Group E) *AET
First-timers Grupo Desportivo de Alfarim took on the seasoned Amigos de Paz, who have competed in Nazaré for each of the three years the competition has been hosted here, in their opening Euro Winners Challenge match.
The Amigos netted quickly through Joao Cintra. However, this was all that separated the teams for the majority of the match, until the third period when a sublimed brace from Diogo pushed GR Amigos de Paz to three goals ahead.
But Alfarim burst back into the match, scoring three to force extra time, where they netted two more to achieve what seemed lost, and take two points in their first ever match in the tournament.
Tomorrow they will go for a second win against Littoral BS Dunkerquois, while Amigos de Paz take of Varzim SC.
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New Team BS Brussels 2 – 11 BSC Lokomotiv Moscow (Group D)
The Belgians had something of a baptism of fire as their first match in Nazaré saw them face a BSC Lokomotiv side who were fresh from a positive performance in the Russian league.
The Railway Men wasted no time in putting their stamp on the match, as the world’s best player, Llorenç Gomez, netted within seconds. Nikonorov scored three before the first whistle and Lokomotiv were way out ahead going into the second period.
Two goals from Vanoncklelen gave New Team some consolation, but the superstars of Lokomotiv kept coming with attack after attack, taking the score to 2-11 at the final whistle.
Sao Domingos FC are the Russians’ next targets, while New Team BS Brussels will try to save their Euro Winners Qualification campaign with a win against GR Olival Basto.
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Real Munster 2 – 5 CSKA Moscow (Group C)
Real Munster kicked off their Euro Winners Challenge against CSKA Moscow. The match started with the Russians taking early control with two early goals.
But Real Munster were not far behind, and Ali pulled one back in the second period. This seemed to kick CSKA into action, who scored three more before the second whistle to put the game beyond the Germans.
Munster managed one more but CSKA held onto their three-goal lead to see the game out and seal an early victory.
Real Munster will play LSA Perwez tomorrow and CSKA Moscow will go head-to-head against local side, Biblioteca Instruçao E Recreio.
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GD Sesimbra 5 – 4 APS Napoli (Group B)
Another Portuguese side making their debut appearance in Nazaré was GD Sesimbra, and their first test came against APS Napoli from Greece.
The sides went into the first break drawing and the match was clearly going to be a close one. The local side took a 3-2 lead just before the second whistle and when both teams scored once more in the final period, Sesimbra sealed their maiden appearance in Nazaré with a win.
The Greek side will be disappointed to have missed out on points, but get their next opportunity against Atletico Licata BS tomorrow. The Sesimbra have a meeting with countrymen, AD Buarcos.
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Marseille Beach Team 7 – 5 Casa Benfica Caldas Rainha (Group F)
French side, Marseille Beach Team met Casa Benfica Caldas Rainha in their opening match, after Group F’s earlier match saw Greek side AO Kefalonia sink Sporting’s B team by six goals.
The match got underway as a very even affair, and two goals for each side saw the first whistle sound with the scores level. Marseille took a slim lead in the second but their hosts weren’t giving up easily.
In the final period, a hat-trick from Santos Dias and a brace from goalkeeper Boina helped the French clinch a 7-5 win. They will aim for six points tomorrow against Sporting B while Casa Benfica Caldas Rainha face AO Kefalonia.
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SC Salgueiros 08 6 – 3 Portsmouth Beach Soccer Club (Group A)
Having stepped into the breach last minute in place of BSMA Batumi, SC Salgueiros first challenge were Euro Winners regulars, Portsmouth BSC.
After just three minutes the Portuguese were off the mark. Younie equalised but just before the first break, Trivales netted his second. A slim lead was extended in the second period as Trivales grabbed two more.
Younie scored a second but Salgueiros defended their advantage well to claim a final winning result of 6-3.
Portsmouth will go again against their second Portuguese side in GDP Costa De Caparica, and Salgueiros play Chelas.
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Littoral Beach Soccer Dunkerquois 6-5 Varzim SC (Group E)
The match between the French team, Littoral Beach Soccer Dunkerquois, and Portugal’s Varzim SC took a whole 12 minutes to get going, as the first period finished with the scoresheet blank.
But as soon as the second period commenced, the goals flew in, as six (from six different scorers!) boosted the tempo of play. However, at 3-3 the scores remained tied and with just the third period to play, it was hard to pick a winner.
Five more goals went in in the final period and Dunkerquois were on the right side of the split, clinching a 6-5 victory. They meet Alfarim tomorrow, and Varzim play Portuguese rivals GR Amigos da Paz.
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LSA Perwez Beach Soccer 2(2) – (1)2 Biblioteca Instrução e Recreio (Group C) *PSO
Like many of the games on day one of the Euro Winners Challenge, and unusually for beach soccer, the final game on pitch one saw no goals in the opening period, as the teams shut down opposition attacks effectively.
It took Sbaa to break the stalemate for LSA Perewz, but Luis Lopez was straight in there with the equalizer. The third period began with the teams still all square at a goal each, but the Belgians snatched the lead once more only to see it cancelled out again.
The third whistle went at 2-2 and when extra time still couldn’t decide a winner the penalty spot was the last option, and the Nazaré team blinked first to give LSA Perwez their first point of the campaign.
The victors will take on the Germans Real Munster and the local side will battle against CSKA Moscow.
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Grupo Recreativo Olival Basto 3 – 5 Sao Domingos FC (Group D)
GR Olival Basto took on Sao Domingos in the final game of the opening day, and it was the latter who found themselves trailing at the first whistle.
But Olival Basto only had a 2-0 lead and in the second period, Sao Domingos got right back in it, with goals from Savio and Frazao. At 2-2, the match was anyone’s and the final period was fought furiously.
It was Sao Domingos who found the extra gear, netting three more in the final 12 minutes to turn the match totally on its head for the win. They meet Lokomotiv tomorrow while Olival Basto play New Team Brussels.
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Remember that all games will be streamed live at beachsoocer.com/live!
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