Sporting Portugal and Levante will fight for the second position tomorrow
A hard-fought win over cheeky Levante UD, combined with Sporting Clube’s win over hosts Alanya Belediye Spor made Lokomotiv Moskow the champions of this Alanya Beach Soccer Cup 2018.
Despite the defeat, Levante gave today a new proof of their growth, making things really tough for the Muscovite. The Spanish champions managed to equalize the Russian advantage on two occasions, to leave the score two apiece by the end of the first period.
Levante kept counteracting Lokomotiv’s attempts, letting the defending Mundialito champs know that they were ready to upset them if they had the chance. The Russian side had to gear up in the last period, and sealed the win with two goals by Safronov and Anton Shkarin.
Having grasped six points out of six, Lokomotiv Moscow sits on top of the table, and mathematically become the champions of this Alanya Beach Soccer Cup, having already beaten the two teams that could parallel them with six points tomorrow.
Goals: 1-0: Nikonorov, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Ezequiel, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Nikonorov, min. 6 (1); 2-2: Edu Suárez, min. 0 (1); 3-2: Safronov, min. 5(3); 4-2: Shkarin, min. 4 (3)
Sporting to fight for silver
Sporting Clube Lisboa earned their first win in the Alanya Beach Soccer Cup, after overcoming the hosts Alanya Belediye Spor’s reaction in the second period. The 1-3 run in that middle stage got the Portuguese side their first points, as well as the chance to fight for the second place in the competition.
Rafinha swept the Leões ahead in the first seconds of the game, and it seemed that Sporting could live today an easier evening than the one they had today. But hosts Alanya Belediye Spor raised their, yet in the first period, to come back into the fight.
Sehit got the hosts ahead in the opening of the second leg, and Sporting understood that they would need all their energy if they wanted to beat their spirited opponents. Two well-aimed shots by Belchior and Nelito, after being given a free kick and a penalty kick, gave the Portuguese the lead back. Duarte added to the Lisboan advantage, to make thing a bit clearer.
Although Alanya Belediye Spor kept trying, Sporting were feeling strong at that point, not conceding any single goal again. Instead, Belchior got his name on the scorer’s chart before the game was over, thus rounding the Portuguese win today.
Goals: 0-1: Rafinha, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Cem Keskin, min0 (1); 2-1: Semih, min. 8 (2); 2-2: Belchior, min. 7 (2); 2-3: Nelito, min. 6 (2); 2-4: Duarte, min. 4 (2); 2-5: Belchior, min. 0 (3)
For complete results, stats and standings, please click here.
Games will be broadcasted, LIVE, on beachsoccer.com/live
