Ecuador shocks Chile with goal in final seconds and Uruguay comes on strong late to keep World Cup hopes alive
Paraguay secures spot in semis with hard-fought win
The 8-5 victory for Paraguay over Bolivia was a nail-biter in the end, though it began with a different rhythm as it seemed like Paraguay was going to run away with the match, but Bolivia played extremely well to get back into the match and came close on many chances to get closer than the two deficit they faced late in the match. The win secures the Paraguayans a spot in the semi-finals and of course a potential spot in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015. Paraguay has nine points through three matches, all wins, and they play Ecuador on the final day of group play on Thursday. Bolivia has yet to find a win in this event but they have been in every match and their fortunes could have been a little different but they will be playing in the consolation bracket this weekend.
Paraguay needed a quick start against Bolivia to ensure, or at least give them more confidence for a victory. A fiery pace is exactly what the Albirroja got, scoring twice in the first minute of the opening period, one from S. Amarilla and the second from R. Acuña. La Verde settled into their defensive roles and did well to slow down the Paraguayan attacks and at the same time, give them time for quality counter attacks, but with only a few minutes remaining in the first period, neither side had scored again. The White and Reds would add a late goal off of a turnover to take a 3-0 lead into the first break. The second twelve minutes were very important for the Bolivians as they still had hopes of a comeback, but it was Paraguay who scored first, keeping the gas on the pedal, and leading 4-0. The Bolivians found their first, second, and third goals late in the second period, but they also ceded three more, and the score sat at 6-3 for Paraguay going into the final 12 minutes.
Goals were in no short supply as both teams scored early, pushing the total tally to twelve accumulative goals, with only two minutes gone in the final frame. The Bolivians were fighting to get back into the match, which is exactly what they did, getting back to within two goals at 7-5. The Paraguayans were not easily dissuaded from their goal, however, and they made sure to score goals when they needed them most and late in the game they scored their eighth on the day,
Goals: 1-0: S. Amarilla, min. 11 (1); 2-0: R. Acuña. Min. 11 (1); 3-0: A. Rolon, min. 2 (1); 4-0: J.Lopez, min. 11 (2); 5-0: P. Moran, min. 8 (2); 5-1: Guardia, min. 4 (2); 6-1: O. Zayas, min. 3 (2); 6-2: Alpire, min. 3 (2); 6-3: Castedo, min. 0 (2); 6-4: Pedro, min. 9 (3); 7-4: A. Rolon, min. 9 (9); 7-5: R. Acuña (o.g.), min. 9 (3); 8-5: P. Moran, min. 3 (3).
Brazil second to earn semi-finals berth with win
The 8-1 win for Brazil over Venezuela had a typical yet peculiar start as is the case in beach soccer, nothing is predictable, but the Brazilians have a monstrous side that is almost always the favourite to win, and Venezuela more than showed up to play, they put a slight scare in the Green and Yellows. Brazil were not afforded much space and they were limited offensively until late in the second period and early in the third, when they exploded for a number of goals. The win puts Brazil in the semi-finals and they will have the opportunity to qualify for yet another World Cup. Venezuela was unable to secure a win in the group stage but they will have a chance to compete for a place as high as fifth, beginning on Friday.
The Venezuelans were eying an upset and they nearly took the lead in the opening minutes but they maintained a sturdy defense and kept the Brazilians off the scoreboard early in the opening period. The Canarinhos did eventually get behind the Burgundy’s defense, when Datinha gave his heavily favoured side the 1-0 lead. The Brazilians were not finding the open spaces they were accustomed to but they did find one more first period goal and took a slim 2-0 lead into the first break. The Vinotinto surprised the beach soccer giants with their heart and first goal, which came in the opening minutes of the second period. The score gave confidence to Venezuela and they were in fact the better team in the opening minutes of the middle frame, but as champions always can do, they weathered the brutal attacks, with acrobatic saves and sound defense. The Verde-Amarela has too potent an offense to be silenced for long and they scored thrice more in the period to take a 5-1 lead into the final frame.
The Brazilians had built a comfortable enough lead to sit back and manage the game and clock, but that is not their way of playing and they used the early minutes of the frame to add to their four goal cushion. The familiar faces, Daniel, Bruno Xavier, and Fernando DDI all scored to push the lead to 8-1. Venezuela had not discovered that tight defense or offensive touch they showed in the opening frame but they continued to play hard and despite the lack of goals, they were being a formidable opponent. When the final buzzer had sounded, the Brazilians had hammered home eight goals and only allowing the one.
Goals: 1-0: Datinha, min. 4 (1); 2-0: Mauricinho, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Rodriguez, min. 11 (2); 3-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 5 (2); 4-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 3 (2); 5-1: Gabriel, min. 1 (2); 6-1: Daniel, min. 10 (3); 7-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 9 (3); 8-1: Fernando DDI, min. 7 (3).
Uruguay jumps in standings and hope for semis
The 5-3 win for Uruguay over Argentina had action like a seamstress has needles, with both sides creating a beautiful quilt of beach soccer excitement. Uruguay wanted to play from the front and they did the entire match, scoring first and then despite giving up the lead three times, they scored first after each equalizer, and in the end they tacked on an insurance goal to secure the three points. The win gives Uruguay 6 points with one match remaining and puts them ahead of Argentina who has also two wins through three matches, but one of their wins came in penalties. Uruguay will need a win against Peru on Thursday if they hope to advance to the semi-finals. Argentina will need a need as well on Thursday against Brazil, and also root for Peru against Uruguay.
There is not script for beach soccer and this match between Argentina and Uruguay was as unscripted as you could expect between two bitter rivals. El Clasico del Rio de la Plata , as it is commonly called, began with the Albiceleste scoring first on a strike from Costas and then the tactics really began to show, with both teams slowing the pace and looking for their spots to pounce. The first period action came to an end with the squads tied at 1-all, due to a last minute connection on a penalty for Gonzalo of Uruguay. The level of play was undeniably high and you could tell that if you were blind, just by the sound of the strikes and the oohs and aaahs of the crowd. The game remained tied going into the heart of the middle frame. The teams could not separate themselves going into the final minutes of the second period, as it seemed like Los Gauchos would take the momentum after they scored on a penalty kick, but not a minute later, Los Charruas replied with a gem of a goal from Fabricio to level things at 2-2. The second twelve minutes were also played to a draw, leaving the score at 2 apiece going into the final period.
Uruguay started the final frame but going on the offensive, putting themselves on the Argentinean side of the pitch and it made for one early goal for Matias, who gave his Celeste side the early 3-2 lead in the all-important final frame. The score did not change as heading into the middle of the third 12 minute period, as the Garra Celeste were doing all they could to hold off another tie and more late game drama. That would not be the case as Levi of the Cowboys scored on a diving shot from Levi, which tied the score at 3, going into the final minutes of the match. The Uruguayans did not let the equalizer deter them and they even drew on the ceded goal, to score another of their own, breaking the third deadlock of the match, putting the score at 4-3 for Uruguay. One more goal would be scored, by Uruguay, to set the score at 5-3 when the final whistle sounded.
Goals: 1-0: Costas min. 5 (1); 1-1: Gonzalo, min. 0 (1); 2-1: Medero, min. 5 (2); Fabrico, min. 4 (2); 2-3: Matias, min. 9 (3); 3-3: Levi, min. 6 (3); 3-4: Pampero, min. 4 (3); 3-5: Pampero, min. 1 (3).
Ecuador keeps World Cup hopes alive with semis clinching win
The 5-4 win for Ecuador over Chile was a utopia for beach soccer as there were goals, defense, drama, saves, and clutch calmness from both sides. Ecuador wanted and needed the crowd to be behind them and they used an early goal to do that. Chile was never going to go down easy and they replied nearly every time. The only time they did not have an answer was on the ninth goal of the game, fifth for the hosts, because it came with less than five seconds left. The win secures Ecuador a spot in the semi-finals and they will look to win their group when they play Paraguay on Thursday. Chile looked destined to win this match but could not pull it out in the end, but they still have the weekend to play for, world ranking, and their match on Thursday against Colombia.
Ecuador had played an amazing tournament heading into their third match, and they did not want the ride to stop, so they used the opening minutes of the game to score first, ignite the crowd, and silence the Chilean attacks. The goal from Moreira put the score at 1-0 and gave them confidence going forward. La Roja had their own idea of how the match should go and they quickly scored the equalizer, putting matters at 1-1 going into the latter half of the first period. The first 12 minutes would finish as they started, tied, but at 1-all. The early minutes in the second period seemed to bring out the best defensive effort both sides and neither side found the second goal they needed to jump ahead, going into the midway point of the match. Cedeño for Ecuador, made sure his team took the lead again when Los Amarillos displayed amazing teamwork and passing, and he slotted home the open net shot. The goal did not impress the Chileans as they fired a rocket of a kick at net and it got past the Ecuadorian goalie. Chile fought hard to take the lead and they did for the first time with 0.01 seconds left in the period, to take the 3-2 lead.
The two sides began the final frame by playing at an almost crazed pace, trying to break through for more goals, though the equalizer was much more important for the home side. Neither squad could find the early goal to seal the fate of the other team but a penalty kick was awarded to Ecuador near the middle of the period and Conforme made sure not to miss, tying the match at 3. Excitement comes in waves and the tidal wave that Ecuador had built came crashing down when Chile scored again to take the 4-3 lead midway through the period. The swell was building when the Ecuadorians were awarded a penalty kick to tie the score at 4, but Chile saved the shot and held onto their slim lead going into the final minutes of the match. The pressure continued to mount for both teams but when Ecuador scored their fourth goal, and second of the day for Moreira, the momentum and energy was all with the Yellows. That energy led to another last second goal, to send everyone into a frenzy and secure the 5-4 win for the home team.
Goals: 1-0: Moreira, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Echeverria, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Cedeño, min. 4 (2); 2-2: Argote, min. 3 (2); 2-3: Echeverria, min. 0 (2); 3-3: Conforme, min. 7 (3); 3-4: Bolivar, min. 5 (3); 4-4: Moreira, min. 2 (3); 5-4: Ceballos, min. 0 (3).
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2015 – CONMEBOL QUALIFIER MANTA (ECUADOR)
Results Today:
Wednesday 22.04.15
13:00 – Paraguay 8-5 Bolivia (Group A)
14:15 – Brazil 8-1 Venezuela (Group B)
15:30 – Argentina 3-5 Uruguay (Group B)
16:45 – Ecuador 5-4 Chile (Group A)
Upcoming Matches:
Thursday 23.04.15
13:00 – Uruguay vs Peru (Group B)
14:15 – Chile vs Colombia (Group A)
15:30 – Argentina vs Brazil (Group B)
16:45 – Ecuador vs Paraguay (Group A)
