13 Sep 2020

Kristall reclaim the European throne!

Dramatic stalemate and penalties saw the three-year reign of Braga fall on the final day of the Euro Winners Cup.

BSC Kristall are the new champions of Europe! They dragged Braga from the throne that they had occupied since 2017 after a low-scoring penalty shootout.

Six different goal-scorers kept the score tied at 3-3, and it was at the penalty spot that the defending champions were felled. Kristall and Braga now both have three Euro Winners Cup titles.

They took some solace in having the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament in Rafa Padilha, while, just as he had last time, Kristall’s Mauricinho claimed the MVP trophy, except this time, it wasn’t his only trophy of the day…

In the play-offs, twins Javi and Cristian Torres fought on the sand as Real Münster edged CD FP Marbella to claim third and in the fifth-place match, competition Top Scorer Llorenç netted three of his eventual 22 goals, with teammate Gabriele Gori reaching an impressive 21.

FINAL

BSC Kristall (RUS)  3(1) – (0)3 SC Braga (POR)

In a replay of the 2018 Euro Winners Cup final, everything went as it had last time; that is until the match reached the penalty spot…

In little over a minute, defending champions SC Braga smashed their way into the lead with a stunning strike from Be Martins that rattled in off the post. It didn’t take long for Kristall to strike back though, as Brazilian Datinha cut inside to slot past countryman Rafa Padilha.

Braga took the lead again through Bokinha, but Kristall were there once more, as Zharikov converted a dead-ball. Jordan Oliveria scored his ninth of the campaign to make it 3-2 in the second period, but like clockwork, and equalizer came, this time from the soon-to-be-crowned MVP Mauricinho.

At 3-3, as it had been the last time these sides met in the 2018 final, the match increased in intensity, but neither side were able to snatch victory, although Filipe Silva came close for Braga in the dying moments of the match.

After extra time saw no winning goal, history repeated itself, and the match went to penalties. However, unlike last time, SC Braga fell short, as Bokinha saw his penalty saved, Jordan Santos hit the post and Be Martins put his shot wide. 

Rodrigo’s single converted penalty was enough to reclaim the title for Kristall after a five-year absence as kings of European beach soccer. Braga are finally dethroned…

PLAYOFFS

CD FP Marbella (ESP) 6 - 7 Real Münster (GER) – 3rd place

In a game where twin brothers, Cristian Torres (Marbella) and Javi Torres (Real Münster), faced each other, the Germans let a healthy 5-1 lead slip as Marbella brought the score back to 4-6.

In the final period the intensity of the battle for bronze increased exponentially and Kuman’s double brought the Spanish to within one goal of their rivals. But the final whistle saved the German club, who make history with a third-place finish.

Artur Music (UKR) 11 - 5 Krylia Sovetov (RUS) – 5th place

It was another goalfest for the Ukrainian side Artur Music, as their star signings shone once more. Gori scored four, while Llorenç and Zborovskyi got three and Pashko netted one to sweep their Russian rivals aside with ease and take a fifth-place finish.

Llorenç eventually claimed the top scorer award in incredible 22 goals! 

BSC Molniya (UKR) 5 - 7 ACD O Sótão (POR) – 7th place

A close tie between BSC Molniya and ACD O Sótão saw Spanish internationals Edu Suarez and Chiky Ardil face each other, and both got their names on the scoresheet. A late surge from the locals, spearheaded by Portugal’s Ruben Brilhante, clinched a seventh-place finish for Sótão.

Grasshopper Club Zurich (SUI) 3 - 5 Sporting CP (POR) – 9th place

Sporting scored five for the third match running to down Grasshopper Club Zurich on the final day in Nazaré. The Swiss lead 2-1 at the first break but a high-pressure game from Sporting saw them clinch ninth place.

Rostocker Robben (GER) 6 - 8 GD Os Nazarenos (POR) – 11th place *AET

Rostocker let a comfortable 5-1 lead slip to fall in extra time against a debutant Nazaré side. Braces for Pombinha and Lucio helped GD Os Nazarenos mount the incredible comeback and clinch a respectable 11th place in the 2020 Euro Winners Cup.

Marseille Beach Team (FRA) 4 - 6 Beach Royals Düsseldorf (GER) – 13th place 

Oliver Romrig swept the Germans ahead in the first period of the 13th-place playoff, and Marseille never managed to get back into the match as Düsseldorf pushed their tally to six. Romrig sealed a hat-trick as Beach Royals Düsseldorf finish their debut appearance in the Euro Winners Cup in 13th place.