5th Place to be decided on Sunday between Peru and Uruguay and 7th place on Saturday between Colombia and Chile
Bolivia scores late to earn 9th place in CONMEBOL
The 5-4 win for Bolivia was a see-saw match as both teams led, and took a tie into the final minutes. Venezuela took the lead first but could not hold on for long as the Bolivians came back to tie the match. Venezuela then took the lead in the middle frame, and looked ready to secure a hard-fought 9th place in one of the toughest beach soccer continents. But Bolivia had other plans and despite being fairly new to the sport, they were cool and composed to come back again, then score a late third period goal, then hang on to secure the victory. The win gives Bolivia 9th place in CONMEBOL. The loss was a difficult one to take for Venezuela, as it was close, like many of their previous matches, and they finish the qualifier in 10th place.
Bolivia and Venezuela were surprisingly at the bottom of the tables as they both played a great tournament and looked like formidable opponents in their group stage matches, and their very evenly matched game for 9th place began just as exciting as their previous games. La Verde saw the bulk of the opening period chances, but it was the Burgundy who found the back of the net first, on a strike from Muñoz. The Greens answered late on a goal from Zapata to put the score at 1-1 going into the first break. The tight play continued into the second frame, as the two sides exchanged early goals, before Zambrano netted the third goal for the Bolivians to make the score 3-2 for Bolivia going into the midway through the match. Bolivia would add another before the Vinotinto scored again, cutting the two goal deficit into one goal, at 4-3. The Venezuelans were not going down without a fight and scored the equalizer late in the match, to set the score at 4-4 going into the final 12 minutes.
The final frame was played like the first period, more conservative, defensive, and physical than the middle frame was, and both sides were lucky to not cede any early goals and the match headed into the match was still tied at 4 going into the heart of the period. Nothing had changed going into the final minutes and the teams seemed destined to head into overtime, tied at 4-all. The goalies were called upon the most on the closing frame, and they were up to the tasks, saving shots from dangerous runs, direct kicks, and penalties. Bolivia got on the board first in the last 12 minutes, making the score 5-4 and the goal proved to be the difference maker, finishing by the same score, 5-4 to the good for the Bolivians.
Goals: 0-1: Muñoz, min. 4 (1); 1-1: Zapata, min. 1 (1); 1-2: H. Muñoz, min. 10 (2); 2-2: Alpire, min. 10 (2); 3-2: Zamrano, min. 8 (2); 4-2: Guzman, min. 6 (2); 4-3: Moreno, min. 5 (2); 4-4: H, Muñoz, min. 2 (2); 5-4: Pedro, min. 2 (3).
Peru to fight for 5th Place after overtime win
The 5-4 victory for Peru over Colombia was an amazing display of intense beach soccer competition, in which the levels were so similar there was almost nothing to differentiate them. The Colombians jumped on top first but Peru replied to take the lead only to have Colombia fight back again. Peru took the late lead but Colombia always seemed to have an answer and the match excitingly went into an extra frame tied at 4. Peru netted the only overtime goal to secure the win. The victory puts Peru in the 5th place match to take place on Sunday. The loss was tough to swallow for Colombia as they could have very well won the match, but they will play for 7th place on Saturday.
Colombia scored first, and in the opening minute, but they could have scored many more goals as they unluckily missed a number of open chances. That inability to finish directly contributed to Peru’s first goal, as Rey slotted home his teams’ first goal, making the score 1-1 going into the middle of the frame. The early going saw Los Cafeteros miss chances but going into the final minutes of the second period it was Los Incas who were unable to score on their opportunities and the period came to an end with a score of 1-1. The teams were serving each other their best attempts at goal, but the score did not move until there were four minutes left, when Vidal was the recipient of beautiful cross, which he connected with, to give the Incans their first lead of the match, a minuscule lead for beach soccer, one goal. The lead dissipated as the Coffee Growers scored on a direct kick just outside of the Peruvian penalty area and the score was 2-2 going into the final frame.
Peru began their late push, trying to regain the lead, by picking their spots to attack and not charging, but the half conservative and half aggressive approach created more chances for the Colombians and they capitalized on the second strike of the day for Moshamer, putting the score at 3-2. The theme of the match was becoming, nothing lasts forever, and the Peruvians answered in the same minute on a gem from Castro, which left the score at 3 apiece going into the middle of the frame. Peru used a goal from Acuña to take back the lead, for the first time since the middle of the second period, and that strike left the score at 4-3. The lead looked to stay until Levid, the Colombian goalie, scored from his end of the pitch to tie matters again, this time at 4-4, with just over a minute left. The match finished without a ninth goal and the match went into overtime still tied at 4. An early overtime goal and a stout defensive stand gave Peru the 5-4 victory.
Goals: 1-0: Moshamer, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Rey, min. 9 (1); 1-2: Vidal, min. 4 (2); 2-2: Larrahondo, min. 2 (2); 3-2: Moshamer, min. 8 (3); 3-3: Castro, min. 8 (3); 3-4: Acuña, min. 5 (3); 4-4: Levid, min. 1 (3); 4-5: Moscosco, min. 2 (et).
Uruguay disposes of Chile to play for 5th Place
The 5-2 win for Uruguay over Chile was a great display of defense, and timely offense. The goals did not flow until the final frame; however the first period goal from the Celeste was the stepping stone they needed to secure a big third period, and run away from the Chileans. Chile tried to get back into proceedings, though the deficit was too big and the big third period was just that much more exciting for the eventual victors. The win pits Uruguay against fellow Day 6 victors, Peru, in the fifth place match set to take place on the events’ final day, Sunday. Chile had a remarkable tournament but despite the loss, they will be playing again on Saturday against Colombia for 7th place.
Uruguay looked in complete control of the match in the opening minutes, snuffing out the Chilean chances, and controlling possession. There were not a plethora of chances taken by either team but the comfort level was much higher for Los Charruas. La Roja gained their confidence, but they were not able to counter the experience of the Uruguayans, who scored first, on a spectacular hit from Marcelo. The period came to an end with the lone goal and Uruguay headed into the first break up 1-0. The middle frame showed an urgency from both teams, as they wanted to be playing on the final day in the match for 5th place. The energy did not create the space that was needed for both teams to score, and the in the opening minutes of the frame, neither side had found another goal. Leading up to the final minutes of the period, the score still sat at 1-0 to the good for Uruguay. The period would not see another goal and the game went into the final period with the same score.
Uruguay had been quiet on offense but stellar on defense up until the opening minutes of the final period, when their attacks begin working and their defense was cracked a bit by the Reds Uruguay scored three early goals, while ceding their first. Going into the middle of the frame the score sat at 4-1 for the Uruguayans and they were relying on their offensive prowess and their typically sturdy defense to maintain their three goal lead. Los Charruas pushed the lead the four goals, at 5-1, but with a mountain of pride, Chile almost immediately responded with their second goal, to keep the hopes of a comeback alive. The Chileans could not complete the huge comeback and the Uruguayans finished the match up 5-2.
Goals: 0-1: Marcelon, min. 2 (1); 0-2: Matias, min. 10 (3); 0-3: Fabricio, min. 9 (3); 1-3: Echeverria, min. 9 (3); 1-4: Pampero, min. 9 (3); 1-5: Gonzalo, min. 4 (3): 2-5: Bolivar, min. 4 (3).
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2015 – CONMEBOL QUALIFIER MANTA (ECUADOR)
Results Today:
Friday 24.04.15
14:15 – Bolivia 5-4 Venezuela (9th Place Match)
15:30 – Colombia 4-5 (aet) Peru (Play-off for 5th Place)
16:45 – Chile 2-5 Uruguay (Play-off for 5th Place)
Upcoming Matches:
Saturday 25.04.15
14:15 – Colombia vs Chile (7th Place Match)
15:30 – Brazil vs Ecuador (Semi-final)
16:45 – Paraguay vs Argentina (Semi-final)
