Romania secures place in the Superfinal, as France and Italy will fight tomorrow to skip Promotion Final
The German Beach Soccer National Team mathematically became the Division B Champions of the Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League 2012, after a one-goal victory over Greece. With these three points, then, the Mannschaft secures not only lifting the Cup on their own pitch but flying to The Hague to fight in the Promotion Final for a place in 2013’s Division A.
Greece was maybe the most fearful opponent, seeing how things have been evolving in this Berlin stage, but the German National team took on the challenge in a thorough and decided fashion. That got Böringschulte’s side an early reward, as Thürk opened the score and began the German path to the Cup. The breed inside all of the German players got the hosts winning almost every battle, keeping every lost ball.
This attitude and Olli’s amusing volley for the 2-0, got the team closer to the dream of clinching the Cup in front of their people, just as the team’s captain had been thinking so much about in the previous days to the event. But doing so in just the second match is a huge achievement, and a great injection for the team’s growth. Greece, no one doubted they would, kept fighting, trying to change the course of the match, and they had time to cut the distance and turn the last minutes into a really uncomfortable soil for the hosts. Fortunately for them, the Hellenic enjoyed no more chances during the game, and the final whistle had Germany seizing the Division B Cup of the Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League Berlin 2012. Tomorrow, against Turkey, time to enjoy it!
Goals: 1-0: Thürk, min. 9 (1); 2-0: Olli, min. 1 (2); 2-1: Bousmpouras, min. 2 (3)
Extra time hit gets Romania into Superfinal; last chance for France
The match in the second day of the Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League Berlin 2012 meant fairly different things for Romania and France. Whereas for the Romanians the game meant the possibility of accessing the EBSL Superfinal again, it meant for Les Bleus almost their last chance to avoiding their third consecutive Promotion Final and the subsequent risk of losing their Division A license. With that much at stake, tension could be easily noticed floating across the Beach Soccer Stadium. The extra time hit by Croi got the price confirmed for the first, and the punishment for the latter.
First period was absolutely Romania-coloured. Despite Favolini immediately equalized M. Poste’s free-kick opener, a 3-0 run got things clearly unbalanced, with Maci, Gasset (og) and Boata having the score 4-1.
But France did not want to be pushed out of the way that easily, and fought until their last breath trying to change the course of a game that was almost finishing their options of skipping the torture of the Promotion Final. The remaining two periods were all about struggling and struggling for the French, whose efforts found a deserved reward, after François and Samoun followed the path signaled by Edouard in the second period to equalize the score, coming back from that 4-1.
After that great job, luck was not to smile France again, as the extra-time hit by Croi definitely denied Les Bleus any chance to the points. So, with their records still unopened, only a victory over Italy could have them outside the fight against relegation. Instead, these two points join the five already achieved by Romania, who become a Superfinal team once again.
Goals: 1-0: M. Poste, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Favolini, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Maci, min. 3 (1); 3-1: Gasset, min. 0 (1); 4-1: Boata, min. 0 (1); 4-2: Edouard, min. 8 (2); 4-3: François, min. 6 (3); 4-4: Samoun, min. 5 (3) ; 5-4 : Croi, min. 2 (et)
Zeynal’s last minute missile has Azerbaijan keeping options
After Germany’s and Greece’s hits yesterday, Turkey and Azerbaijan faced today in the Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League with the idea of making the most of their chances to get into the EBSL Promotion Final. Acknowledging than six points can get them the ticket to fight for Division A place, both teams hit the sand with the idea of looking to their opponent’s end and lose no time in bagging first points. Only today’s winner would have any chance left to The Hague, and that was the Azeri, thanks to a last-breath missile by Zeynal that earned his team the points.
The desire of keeping in the race had two teams heading up front from the very beginning, what resulted in a thrilling first half with six goals, and a stroke exchange that raised the score to 3-3. The goal frenzy flagged during second period, in which only Bariç managed to find the back of the net to have Turkey again ahead. But right at the beginning of the last stage, the Azeri replied for a new equalizer, thanks to Hikmat’s header. Things were to get shaky again in this last period, as after Erkan’s missile swept the Ottoman ahead again, Zeynal would reply for a new equalizer with just two minutes to go.
Anything could happen and, with the clock just 20 seconds to extra time, Zeynal send a second missile to seize the points for his team, and get Azerbaijan still with options to join the other four teams that will fight for promotion end this month.
Goals : 1-0 : Tamer, min. 9 (1) ; 1-1 : Elvin, min. 8 (1); 1-2: Zaynal, min. 5 (1); 2-2: Ayhan, min. 11 (2); 3-2: Erhan, min. 11 (2); 3-3: Hikmat, min. 10 (1); 4-3: Bariç, min. 5 (2); 4-4: Hikmat, min. 9 (3); 5-4: Erkan,min. 4 (3); 5-5: Zeynal, min. 2 (3); 5-6: Zeynal, min. 0 (3)
Italy has only one chance left as Russia sees reediting Berlin glory
Italy will need a victory in their match against France tomorrow to finally brush away the possibilities of being sent into Promotion Final, after today’s defeat to Russia. The current World Champions, in turn, did not display their best version this afternoon either, but keep their unstoppable march to the cup in this Power Horse Euro Beach Soccer League Berlin 2012, once their ticket to the season’s decider in The Hague was more than secured.
Italy knew how much they needed to work today, as having to fight for your last chances against current Euro Beach Soccer League, Euro Beach Soccer Cup and World Cup champions is not a sweet scenario to find yourself in. During last weeks, though, Russia is not that Russia, and that was the idea Esposito’s side wanted to exploit. That even got more sense when Corosiniti opened the score for the Azzurri, although in just two seconds, Krasheninnikov would have things leveled again with the 1-1.
That was the turning point for Likhachev’s side, despite the score stayed equalized for a quite long time. It was not until mid second period that Makarov would have Russia in command, a position they would never lose again. Zaikin, in the third period strengthened the defending champions’ dominion, with a goal that turned meaningful enough when Gori, with only one minute to go, hit for the 3-1. That was not enough for the Transalpine, though, and they will need to beat France tomorrow to ensure their Division A identity and push Les Bleus to fight for it in the Promotion Final.
Goals: 0-1: Corosiniti, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Krash, min. 9 (1); 2-1: Makarov, min. 6 (2); 3-1: Zaikin, min. 8 (3); 3-2: Gori, min. 1 (3)
POWER HORSE EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE BERLIN 2012
Results today :
Sat 04.08.12
12:30 – Romania 5-4 (et) France
13:45 – Turkey 5-6 Azerbaijan
15:00 – Russia 3-2 Italy
16:15 – Germany 2-1 Greece
Matches for tomorrow:
Sun 05.08.12
11:30 – Italy vs. France
12:45 – Greece vs. Azerbaijan
14:00 – Russia vs. Romania
16:00 – Germany vs. Turkey
