Day one saw France defeat their hosts Germany as Russia suffered their first league defeat to Spain
The opening day of the Euro Beach Soccer League Warnemunde witnessed giants fall, hopes dashed and aspirations of Division A campaigns next year bloom for some of our Division B teams.
Let’s start our day’s roundup in Division A where Joaquin Alonso’s side would have to fight hard if they wanted to take any points from the – as of yet – undefeated Russians…
Russia v Spain (Division A)
The first Division A clash in Warnemunde was between the beach soccer giants of Russia and Spain. The Russians, on the back of hosting and winning their own EBSL event in Moscow a few weeks ago, were full of confidence and going into this match up against Joaquin Alonso’s men, had taken eight points from just three matches.
They took the lead here in Warnemunde through Novikov after just four minutes and defended this slim lead superbly…for the opening period at least.
However, at the start of the second period, a fine Chiky finish brought Spain level, and then Llorenç nosed the Spaniards in front. The game remained tight though, as both teams continued to create chances and force acrobatics from the goalkeepers.
Then Russia were back on level terms, as Shkarin equalised to the delight of his teammates on the bench. But once more, Spain took the lead, this time through a sublime volley from Edu the number nine.
As the final period drew on the Spanish seemed to get more and more comfortable and went further ahead, first when a long range free-kick was fumbled by the Russian keeper, and then when Javi Torres turned in a loose ball at the near post. When Chiky claimed his brace, it soon became clear that a comeback was slipping out of sight for Mikhail Likhachev’s men.
The game finished with the Spanish claiming six goals to their rivals’ two, a surprisingly comfortable victory for Alonso’s side in the end, who claim the valuable three points.
Goals: 1-0: Novikov, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Chiky, min. 11 (2); 1-2: Llorenç, min. 7 (2); 2-2: Shkarin, min. 6 (2); 2-3: Edu, min. 2 (2); 2-4: F. Guisado, min. 5 (3); 2-5: Javi Torres, min. 3 (3); 2-6: Chiky, min. 1 (3);
France v Germany (Division A)
As the only two teams in Division A yet to pick up a point, a place in the Promotion Final, where they could very possibly be relegated, was a real danger for both the hosts and their French opponents.
This game was arguably both teams’ best chance for some points at the event in Warnemunde, so in many ways this game was the one to watch on day one.
There was nothing to separate the two teams after the first period of play, as the whistle blew with the score at 0-0. However, it was the heroics of the young German keeper, Schroder, that kept the hosts on level terms, after he made some fine diving saves.
As the second period got underway neither team managed to find the back of the net and more top class goalkeeping kept the match goalless.
But the breakthrough came eventually as Oliver Leblanc converted a free-kick which took a fortunate bobble to elude the goalkeeper. The French lead by a goal to nil, but minutes later brought further dismay to the crowd by doubling that lead when Barbotti poked in from close range.
Matteo Murrucci’s side only had the final period to mount a comeback. But France weren’t finished yet as Jeremy Basquaise drove in a low shot to make it three. German heads dropped as the game slipped from their control as the clock ticked on.
In the dying moments Oliver Romrig gave the crowd something to cheer for, by scoring the goal of the game, a beautiful curled shot into the top corner. But a minute later France had another reply as Angeletti nodded in a fourth for Gerard Sergent’s side, sealing a cruel defeat for the hosts, and a very likely tussle in the Promotion Final for their Division A survival.
Goals: 1-0: Leblanc, min. 6 (2); 2-0: Barbotti, min. 5 (2); 3-0: Basquaise, min. 10 (3); 3-1: Olli, min. 2 (3); 4-1: Angeletti, min. 1 (3);
England v Denmark (Division B)
The Euro Beach Soccer League in Warnemunde got underway in Division B when England met Denmark. With the event in Germany the last chance to pick up points and make it to that all important Promotion Final in Sardinia (September 6th – 9th), this game was key.
It was the Lions that started the game the stronger as a loose back pass was pounced on by captain Aaron Clarke, who slotted home to take an early lead. The advantage was then doubled by Cameron O’Rourke and the Danes found themselves with a task on their hands to get back into this tie.
Except hitting the post, they created little by way of a comeback in the first period an, which they ended trailing.
O’Rourke scored his second from close range at the start of the second period and then the captain took his second just minutes later with a sumptuous lobbed shot.
Ian Skott’s side were still struggling to keep create chances of their own and when O’Rourke secured a hat-trick to put England 5-0 ahead, the game was slipping further and further away from the Danes.
A consolation goal from Khattab came four minutes before the final whistle but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback and England took the event’s first points.
Goals: 1-0: Clarke, min. 11 (1); 2-0: O’Rourke, min. 8 (1); 3-0: O’Rourke, min. 10 (2); 4-0: Clarke, min. 7 (2); 5-0: O’Rourke, min. 4 (2); 5-1: Khattab, min. 4 (3);
Georgia v Hungary (Division B)
This match saw two more sides with aspirations of playing in Division A come together, as Georgia took on Hungary.
The game started with several good chances being created and the goalkeepers being kept busy between the posts, and it was half way through the first period that the deadlock was broken by the Georgian number nine, Pargalava. This goal was all that separated the sides at the first break with Georgia enjoying a slim lead.
However, as the second period got underway, a totally different Hungarian side burst onto the sand as they turned the game around totally. Genczler, Besenyei and the goalkeeper Lipok found the back of the Georgian net before the second whistle blew and Mark Ughy’s side lead the by three goals to one.
The end to end style of play continued into the third and final period, as the goals continued to fly in and the pace of the game was evenly matched. But Hungary managed to maintain their advantage despite the clinical finishing of Georgia.
Pargalava secured himself a hat-trick in the final minute of the game, reducing the deficit to just one but Georgia eventually ran out of time and paid the price for some defensive errors in the second period.
Hungary take the three points as they managed to hang on until the final whistle with a slender lead. Georgia will have to try their luck against England tomorrow for a second attempt at glory in Warnemunde.
Goals: 1-0: Pargalava, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Genczler, min. 8 (2); 1-2: Besenyei, min. 5 (2); 1-3: Lipok, min. 1 (2); 2-3: Todadze, min. 11 (3); 2-4: Fekete, min. 9 (3); 3-4: Pargalava, min. 7 (3); 3-5: Besenyei, min. 4 (3); 4-5: Pargalava, min. 0 (3);
