The first day in Division A saw Russia and Poland take three points each while in Division B Greece and Kazakhstan both claim wins
As day one draws to a close, we can enjoy the success of another day of spectacles and silky sills. There were 44 goals scored in just four games and you can’t help the feeling that we’re in for a whole lot more tomorrow.
Let’s kick off with Division A…
DIVISION A
Switzerland v Poland
The first Division A game in the Euro Beach Soccer League in Moscow proved to be a show of real beach soccer prowess. The two powerhouses of Switzerland and Poland found it hard to break each other down in the first period.
Pozniak was able to find the back of the net for Poland, giving them a slender lead, but then, with just two minutes of the first period left, a lucky bobble for Ott saw his free-kick fly into the top corner, leaving Marciniak helplessly stranded between the posts.
The second period kicked off with the teams all square, but with so much quality on the sand there were always going to be more goals in this one. Hodel put the Swiss in front as he slipped the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs but the Poles had a response, or two.
A goal from Daniluk and a golazo from goalkeeper Marciniak meant that Stanislawski’s side lead at the second break. But Switzerland were far from finished and Ott completed his hat-trick the bring his side level. Then Stankovic smashed in a free-kick and Angelo Schirinzi’s men found themselves out in front for a second time.
The tables turned once more in a real end-to-end bout when two quick-fire goals from Madani put Poland ahead again. This time, time ran out for Switzerland and despite some desperate last-minute attacks they will have to wait until tomorrow for their next chance of picking up some points.
Goals: 0-1: Pozniak, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Ott, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Hodel, min. 5 (2); 2-2: Daniluk, min. 4 (2); 2-3: Marciniak, min. 3 (2); 3-3: Ott, min. 10 (3); 3-4: Poznik, min. 10 (3); 4-4: Ott, min. 9 (3); 5-4: Stankovic, min. 6 (3); 5-5: Madani, min. 5 (3); 5-6: Madani min. 5 (3);
Azerbaijan v Russia
In the day’s final game, hosts Russia met Azerbaijan, who had accommodated their own Euro Beach Soccer League event only a month ago and picked up their first points of the year.
But Zeynal Zeynalov’s men were aiming to pick up even more against their hosts today, which would be far from easy. Russia opened the scoring after two minutes through Paporotnyi and from then on proceeded to dominate play and created more and more chances.
By the end of the second period, they had found the net four times and Azerbaijan needed something special in the remaining periods to bring this game back. Russia scored again as the second period started, but this time Azerbaijan had a reply.
Sabir scored straight from the kick off and the Asif netted again five minutes from the whistle, reducing the goal difference to just two. Russia did a great job of keeping Azerbaijan at arm’s length as the game went on and Shishin and Romanov completed a brace each as Mikhail Likhachev’s side continued to throw their weight around.
Amid managed to claim a third for Azerbaijan but it was too little too late and they were unable to catch a flying Russian side who will take some stopping judging by today’s performance.
Following their 3-8 win today, the hosts will look to make it two wins out of two when they meet Poland tomorrow, while Azerbaijan will have to regroup for a tough test against Switzerland.
Goals: 0-1: Paporotnyi, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Makarov, min. 9 (1); 0-3: Romanov, min. 3 (1); 0-4: Federov, min. 1 (1); 0-5: Krash, min. (2); 1-5: Sabir, min. 11 (2); 2-5: Asif, min. 5 (2); 2-6: Shishin, min. 5 (2); 2-7: Romanov, min. 6 (3); 3-7: Amid, min. 4 (3); 3-8: Shishin, min. 1 (3);
DIVISION B
Lithuania v Greece
Kicking of the campaign for promotion to Division A in Moscow, were Nerijus Budraitis’s Lithuania and Stefanos Soilemes’s Greece. The first game of the tournament saw plenty of goals and some top class beach soccer, as Greece took the first points in Moscow.
It took a little over a minute for Kafantaris to open the scoring for Greece, diving low to meet a corner with his head to take the lead. Lithuania managed to respond with just a minute of the period to go, when captain Radavicius drove in a free-kick. But when Vidalis snuck in a close-range overhead kick just seconds later, the sides went into the break with a one-goal difference between them.
In the second period, both teams created good chances but Greece looked the more dangerous in front of goal. However, the Lithuanian number one, Petrauskas, was in inspired form, pulling of some acrobatic saves to deny the Greeks. In the meantime, Novickov pulled the Lithuanians level once more, but, yet again, Soilemes’s men had a swift reply, when Pipinis converted a penalty to retake the lead.
This game of catch-up continued for Lithuania, who had trailed by just one goal for most of the game, into the third period. But then a fumble from defender Radavicius, who was playing in goal for Lithuania, gifted Greece a fourth. When Kafantaris completed his brace, the game looked all but over at 2-5. One very late goal for each team gave the game an exciting end but kept the difference the same.
The Euro Beach Soccer League’s opening game in Moscow saw the first points go to Greece, while Lithuania will have to battle it out against Moldova tomorrow in search for theirs.
Goals: 0-1: Kafantaris min. 10 (1); 1-1: Radavicius min. 1 (1); 1-2: Vidalis min. 1 (1); 2-2: Novickov min. 2 (2); 2-3: Pipinis min. 1 (2); 2-4: Thomas min. 8 (3); 2-5: Kafantaris min. 1 (3); 3-5: Tamaliunas min. 1 (3); 3-6: Biris min. 0 (3);
Moldova v Kazakhstan
Moldova and Kazakhstan both went into this game fresh and ready to kick off their promotion campaign on the front foot. But, as in every beach soccer game, there could only be one winner as Kazakhstan fended off late attacks to clinch all three points.
The first period brought little by way of goals despite several promising chances that were either denied by fine goalkeeping or squandered. But then, as soon as the whistle blew to start the second period, the floodgates opened.
The teams alternated scoring goals to bring the score to 2-3 (five goals!) with just two minutes of time played. Amongst the momentary chaos (at least in the defensive halves) Perevyortov grabbed himself a brace for Kazakhstan, which he then made into a hat-trick in the dying moments of the period, before a bizarre own goal from Chapanov reduced the deficit to just one again.
But Muralinov was there to restore the two-goal lead before the whistle, and the period finished 3-5. The game continued in similar bursts of action, producing more and more goals, but with Kazakhstan enjoying a lead consistently. Moldova put together a fine comeback attempt in the dying moments but the Kazakhs managed to defend their slim lead to take all three points.
Goals: 0-1: Perevyortov min. 11 (2); 1-1: Capsamun min. 10 (2); 1-2: Perevyortov min. 10 (2); 2-2: Pavalachi min. 10 (2); 2-3: Muralinov min. 10 (2); 2-4: Perevyortov min. 1 (2); 3-4: Chapanov (OG) min. 1 (2); 3-5: Muralinov min. 0 (2); 4-5: Capsamun min. 9 (3); 4-6: Makagon min. 7 (3); 5-6: Schiopu min. 7 (3); 5-7: Perevyortov min. 5 (3); 6-7: Cojocari min. 3 (3);
Follow all of the Euro Beach Soccer League results, fixtures and standings on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
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