Anything can happen in the last regular stage matchday of the Copa Sudamericana, with Paraguay, Chile and Brazil targetting final
Chile cruises to second victory
The 6-2 win for Chile over Bolivia began just how the Bolivians would have liked, they withstood Chile’s first offensive strikes, countered with the games’first goal, before being overtaken. The Chilean, Estay, did his part by scoring a hat trick, all before the end of the second period. Beach soccer is a game of inches and Bolivia ended up on the wrong side of many chances and the final score could have been very different, had the ball bounced their way. The win gives Chile 6 points and a shot at the final going into their last round robin match on Friday against Uruguay. Bolivia has not yet earned their first victory but they have been fighting in every match and they will look for their first points against Paraguay on Friday.
Shots on goal were at a premium in the opening matches but the two sides were constantly looking to put shots on target. The opportunities began to mount, more so for the Lone Stars, but when the middle of the period had been reached, there will were not any goals. All of that changed when Pedro slotted home a direct kick for La Verde, but not more than a minute later, Chile used wonderful teamwork including a bicycle kick across the face of goal that found the awaiting foot of Estay, who netted the equalizer. The Chileans addd two more goals that went unanswered in the opening frame to take a 3-1 info the second period. Chile got their fourth goal early in the middle frame as a great shot from Echeveria went off the goal post and Estay was in the right place at the right time to kick in his second of the match, which put the Chileans up 4-1. The disciplined defenses kept the score the same going into the final minutes of the period, but Chile was employing a little more conservative game plan. Estay of Chile, scored his third of the match and the fifth unanswered for his side, late in the frame to make the score 5-1, which how the middle 12 minutes would end.
Bolivia started the final period out exactly how the first period began, with a direct kick goal from Pedro, this early third period goal lessened the deficit to two goals, at 5-3, still in favour of Chile. La Verde were playing very strong and showcasing their strong physical abilities but the smaller and quicker Chile were able to counter and eventually added their sixth goal, restoring their largest lead of the match, four goals, with a score of 6-2. Chile may have gone defensive for stretches but their play in the final frame was very attack oriented. Many of the Chilean chances were left wanting, but their lead was more than enough as their defense was just as impressive. The final score ended up being 6-2 for Chile.
Goals: 1-0: Pedro, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Estay, min. 4 (1); 1-2: Medalla, min. 3 (1); 1-3: Ponce, min. 0 (1); 1-4: Estay, min. 11 (2); 1-5: Estay, min. 4 (2); 2-5: Pedro, min. 9 (3); 2-6: Bolivar, min. 6 (3).
Paraguay takes lead in Sudamericana with 2nd overtime win
The 8-7 (aet) victory for Paraguay over Brazil was the kind of match you could expect from the top two teams going into the 5th match day. Paraguay came out ready to play but defense was dominant in the early going, until the two teams turned up the heat, first the Paraguayans took the big lead and then Brazil slowly chipped away at said lead until the match finally came to the all-exciting final period, which could not decide anything and sent the two teams to overtime. In overtime a fourth goal from Lopez secured the victory for the visiting Paraguayans. The win was the second overtime victory for Paraguay and gets them on top of the table. Brazil can still advance to the finals as well but they need a victory on their last round robin match against Argentina on Friday.
Paraguay came up with the first exciting moments of the match, driving shots towards Brazil’s keeper but wonderful saves kept the early scoresheet clean, however the pressure was on for both defenses and the sense was that a goal would come soon. The Canarinho’s confidence began to grow and they begin pressing matters more and more but the Albirroja stood strong and did not concede the early goal. A penalty kick goal from Flores gave Paraguay the first goal and lead in the match, near the midway point in the period. Brazil is no stranger to comebacks and they did not lost their heads, but were still not able to connect on any goals heading into the final minutes of the frame. The Verde-Amarela had an interesting but unlucky sequence near the end of the period as one of their shots hit the crossbar and then the rebound was immediately struck and sweetly but it hit the goal post and those proved to be the last chances of the period as it ended 1-0 for Paraguay. The White and Reds doubled their lead early in the second period on a beautiful header, setting the score at 2-0, that left the Brazilians confounded. Bruno Xavier did his best to get the hosts back into the match, when he nailed a great scissor kick, but less than a minute later the Paraguayans countered to restore the two goal lead at 3-1. The Brazilians, known for their pretty play, scored another beauty of a goal but Paraguay answered to push them to the brink, with two more goals, leaving the score at 5-2 going into the final period.
Brazil was down and their intensity and urgency showed that as in the opening minute of the final frame, Anderson scored his second of the match to pull back to within two goals at 5-3. The comeback was not complete and Bruno Xavier showed great poise in netting his second for Brazil, but in the same minute, Paraguay regained their composure and scored again, putting the score at 6-4 for Paraguay early in the final period. The clinical scoring continued as the Green and Yellow struck another goal, getting back to within one goal at 6-5 going into the heart of the frame. Bruno Xavier brought the crowd to its feet with his hat trick, but not much later, Paraguay was awarded a penalty and Lopez connected for his third goal of the match, making the score 7-6 for the visitors. Bruno Xavier could not be stopped and added another gorgeous bicycle kick goal to tie the game again, this time at 7-all. Nothing further could separate the two teams and the match headed into overtime. Overtime was tense as both teams did not want to lose, but Lopez gave the Paraguayans the final lead, after a great set piece on a corner, and the goal was his fourth of the match and the game finished with the Albirroja up 8-7.
Goals: 1-0: Flores, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Rodriguez, min. 9 (2); 2-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 7 (2); 3-1: Lopez, min. 7 (2); 3-2: Andeson, min. 4 (2); 4-2: Lopez, min. 1 (2); 5-2: Rodriguez, min. 1 (2); 5-3: Anderson, min. 11 (3); 5-4: Bruno Xavier, min. 10 (3); 6-4: Benitez, min. 10 (3); 6-5: Rodrigo, min. 8 (3); 6-6: Bruno Xavier, min. 5 (3); 7-6: Lopez, min. 4 (3); 7-7: Bruno Xavier, min. 4 (3); 8-7: Lopez, min. 1 (et).
Argentina comes from behind for victory
The 3-2 win for Argentina over Uruguay looked to be doomed from the start but they calmly recovered in the second period and used a sound defensive strategy, which they have utilized most of the tournament, to solidify the win in the second and third periods. Uruguay had many chances to push their lead and eventually when they found themselves losing, to get back in it, but could not hit the back of the onion bag. The win leaves Argentina in a position to make it to the finals, if they can upset Brazil on the final day of round robin play, on Friday. Uruguay will face a very deep and talented Chile squad on Friday, hoping to solidify their placing for their final match on Saturday.
The two sides both had one win and two losses coming into their confrontation and Argentina knew they had a shot at advancing to the finals if they could win this match and beat Brazil on Friday. The Albiceleste were back treading from the start as Los Charrúas came out firing but missing on some golden opportunities. A penalty kick was the opening that the Uruguayans needed to get the first goal and loosen things up, which they did well to connect on and take the 1-0 lead. The lead doubled after a direct kick goal from Ricar and the Garra Celeste could then afford to stay back and make sure they kept their back line secure. Los Gauchos began play in the second period as if they were extremely disappointed in their play earlier in the match, though they had statistically outperformed Uruguay, despite being down 2-0. The determination paid off as the Argentine scored in the only third of the period, to get back within one score at 2-1. Medero took advantage of a hand ball called on Uruguay and booted home the equalizer, knotting the score at 2, midway through the match. The teams played the rest of the period to a draw and went into the last 12 minutes tied at 2.
Uruguay may have let their lead slip away but they got back to fundamentals in the first minutes of the third period and put themselves in position to score more goals but the Argentinians did just enough to thwart the initial attacks. The defense turned into offense and Argentina capitalized on a penalty kick to take their first lead of the match at 2-3 going into the final half of the frame. Uruguay could not get into rhythm on offense but they kept things together with the help of their tight defense, but going into the last minute, they still found themselves down 3-2. A late direct kick gave them the chance to tie matters in the final 30 seconds, but the shot was just wide and the final whistle sounded with Argentina up 3-2.
Goals: 1-0: Matias, min. 7 (1); 2-0: Ricar, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Medero, min. 8 (2); 2-2: Medero, min. 7 (2); 2-3: Hilaire, min. 6 (3).
COPA SUDAMERICANA DE BEACH SOCCER – RECIFE 2015
Match results:
Thursday, February 5th, 2014
13:00 – Bolivia 2-6 Chile
14:15 – Paraguay 8-7 (aet) Brazil
15:30 – Uruguay 2-3 Argentina
Upcoming matches:
Friday, February 6th, 2014
13:00 – Paraguay vs. Bolivia
14:15 – Uruguay vs. Chile
15:30 – Brazil vs. Argentina
