Author Topic: Beach Soccer Thread (Read 62820 times)

FF · « **Reply #150 on:** April 02, 2015, 05:27:20 PM »

Typical trini style. Concede a goal immediately. 1-2 down.

We was having the lion share of the ball too. 1 min to go.

Ah next throw way. Lord.

FF · « **Reply #151 on:** April 02, 2015, 05:31:12 PM »

Steups game done.

Flex · « **Reply #152 on:** April 02, 2015, 05:32:31 PM »

T&T wasted it. Number 10 and 7 especially.

Tallman · « **Reply #153 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:00:54 PM »

HIGHLIGHTS of T&T’s 2-1 loss to Costa Rica

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/byIK7bPS2pk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/byIK7bPS2pk</a>

Bakes · « **Reply #154 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:12:22 PM »

Good goal for the winner by Pacheco... but dat TT defender eh serious.

soccerman · « **Reply #155 on:** April 03, 2015, 09:14:38 AM »

We had most of the chances just based on those highlights. So what now, are we eliminated?

Tallman · « **Reply #156 on:** April 03, 2015, 05:12:12 PM »

LIVE STREAM: Trinidad and Tobago vs Bahamas (2015 #CONCACAF #BeachSoccer Championship 5th-place playoff). Kick-off at 7:45pm EST.
http://new.livestream.com/bsww/concacafbeachsoccercampeonato2015

Tallman · « **Reply #157 on:** April 03, 2015, 07:41:23 PM »

HIGHLIGHTS of T&T’s 4-1 win over Bahamas in a 2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship 5th place playoff in El Salvador. T&T will now face Guatemala on Saturday in the 5th place game.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/OF21Dg2Su8U" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/OF21Dg2Su8U</a>

Flex · « **Reply #158 on:** April 04, 2015, 01:54:50 AM »

Costa Rica edges T&T 2-1 in quarters.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Costa Rica took advantage of an under strength T&T to come away with a 2-1 win in their Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship quarterfinal at the Estadio de Futbol Playa, Costa Del Sol, El Salvador on Thursday night.

The T&T squad went into contest without the suspended pair of goalkeeper Zane Coker and defender Makan Hislop, after they were red carded in their final Group B match with Mexico, a 4-0 loss on Tuesday night.

However, despite their absence, the Ryan Augustine-skippered T&T men managed to hold its own and only trailed 1-0 after three quarters, with Jossimar Aguilar, the scorer for the Central Americans in the 11th,

Kerwin Stafford managed to draw T&T level in the 33rd minute, but with 92 seconds remaining in the third period Greivin Pacheco broke the 1-1 stalemate to give Costa Rica its fourth straight with his tenth goal of the tournament and ending T&T hopes of qualifying to the Beach World Cup in Portugal later this year.

Joining Costa Rica in last night’s semifinals were USA, Mexico and El Salvador, all of whom have made it to the World Finals at least once before.

USA, the defending Concacaf champions, whipped Jamaica 7-3 to set up a semifinal with Mexico which dumped Guatemala 5-2 while El Salvador blanked Bahamas 6-0 and faced Costa Rica.

Also yesterday, in the fifth to eighth semifinals, T&T which welcomed back Coker and Hislop met Bahamas while Jamaica tangled El Salvador.

The tournament ends today with the playoffs from third to eighth as well as the finals at the end of which the top two teams qualify for the World Cup.

T&T head coach, former USA beach soccer international player Benyam Astorga, in spite of the quarterfinal loss, described T&T’s showing at the tournament as creditable.

“To sum up, I would say proud. The players have shown the technical and tactical ability to play with all teams at this level. Going forward and playing top teams is where experience so far plays a big part,” Astorga said.

Before the 2-1 loss, he said T&T were showing great signs of potential qualifiers.“It’s been a great tournament ! The team got off to a great start as expected, due to the hard work they put in during the camp. The venue and support from the fans created an amazing atmosphere! The men here have been professional in ever aspect and true ambassadors of T&T.”

Aside from the efforts by the TTFA and its president Raymond Tim Kee to ensure the team could undergo its preparations for the tournament, the Ministry of Sport was also a supporter of this venture. T&T Beach Soccer president Kyle Lequay and assistant Yuri Chapman also shouldered responsibilities in the team’s build up to the Finals.

“We had a tight unit. The seven-day training camp in Tobago brought the men together. They are better tactically now with a better understanding of beach soccer, something we stressed with experience. One big factor is they not only fight for themselves but their country. We were not that team from the previous World Cup qualifiers. We attacked we defended, we had set plays and a good balance of players in rotation. Again, to everyone who had been following us, thank you for your support,” Astorga said.

Teams

Costa Rica: - Bladimir Adanis (Yellow 34); Jason Campos Chavarría, José Mendoza MacAdam, Christian Alonso Sánchez González (Yellow 20), William Andrés León Cruz.

Subs From: - Neils Fallas Beita; Jossimar Antonio Downer Aguilar, Deyber Daniel Villegas Guerrero, Alfredo Gabriel Azuola Urea, Danny Johnson Hadson, Greivin Alberto Pacheco Quesada, Luis Fernando Jiménez Arias.

Coach: - Franklin Gonzalo Zúñiga Garita.

Trinidad & Tobago: - Victor Thomas; Ryan Augustine, Jesse Bailey, David Mc Dougall, Kevon Woodley.

Subs From: - Karrem Perry (Yellow 11), Lemuel Lyons, Chad Appoo, Hakeem King, Kerwin Stafford.

Coach: - Benyam Astorga.

THURSDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS

Costa Rica 2 (Jossimar Aguilar 11th, Greivin Quesada 34th) vs T&T 1 (Kerwin Stafford 33rd)

USA 7 (Nicolas Perera 6th, 13th, 16th, 20th, Alessandro Canale 1st, 25th, Christopher Toth 35th) vs Jamaica 3 (Rohan Reid 9th, 34th, Phillip Peddie 18th)

Mexico 5 (Angel Rodriguez 1st, 29th, Adrian Gonzalez 9th, 20th, Gerardo Gomez 2nd) vs Guatemala 2 (Alex Avila 20th, Angel Gomez 24th)

El Salvador 6 (Rube Batres 6th, 18th, Francisco Velasquez 11th, 33rd, Jose Ruiz 12th, 36th) vs Bahamas 0

Tallman · « **Reply #159 on:** April 04, 2015, 07:22:18 AM »

Trinidad and Tobago methodical in play-off win against Bahamas
By beachsoccer.com

The 4-1 win for Trinidad and Tobago was very deliberate and surgical as they slowly but surely broke down the sturdy Bahamas defense and took an early lead but did not secure matters or have things settled completely until the minutes. The Bahamas found themselves in a hole and had to dig their way out, which expended much of their energy. The Bahamas did find the next level of excitement late in the frame but Trinidad and Tobago were able to weather the storm and hold on for the win. The victory means that Trinidad and Tobago will play for outright 5th place on Saturday, against Guatemala. The tough loss does not mean the end of the event for the Bahamas as they will play in the 7th place match on Saturday against Jamaica.

The Bahamas may have looked like the faster team but Trinidad and Tobago were the stronger and they tried to push around the Rake and Scrape Boys, but nothing gave for either side and the score remained 0-0 going into the heart of the first period. The Bahamas did not have many early chances and the Soca Warriors were tallying their shots on goal but nothing was falling until Trinidad and Tobago smacked a shot in from midfield to take the one goal lead. The period would end with a flurry of shots, but the same score, 1-0 for Trinidad and Tobago. The first minutes of the game belonged to Trinidad and Tobago and the opening minutes of the second period were the same, but thanks to great goalkeeping from the Bahamas, there was not a change in score. The game got better and better and the Soca Warriors clutched the1-0 lead going into the final minutes of the frame. Trinidad and Tobago would add one more goal in the frame and they held onto a 2-0 advantage going into the final 12 minutes.

Trinidad and Tobago seemed in their comfort zone, pressing the attacks when they saw opportunities but also sitting back on defense. It looked like they had an extra defender at all times as they were swarming to the ball. The Rake and Scrape Boys had their chances early, and facing only a two goal disadvantage meant that they were very much still in the mix to win. Trinidad and Tobago took a direct kick from long used early in the frame and a perfect hit pushed the lead to 3-0, but the Bahamas came alive and got their first goal of the day, from St Fleur, which kindled the hope of a comeback for the Bahamas. The two goal lead would prove to be enough as Trinidad and Tobago added another safety and came away with the 4-1 win.

Goals: 1-0: Appoo, min. 4 (1); 2-0: Woodley, min. 4 (2); 3-0: Perry, min. 9 (3); 3-1: St Fleur, min. 8 (3); 4-1: Appoo, min. 1 (3).

Results Today:

Friday 03.04.15

16:30 –Jamaica 3-9 Guatemala (Playoff for 5th Place)

17:45 –Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 Bahamas (Playoff for 5th Place)

19:00 – USA vs. Mexico (Semifinals)

20:15 – Costa Rica vs. El Salvador (Semifinals)

Upcoming Matches:

Saturday 04.04.15

16:30 – Jamaica vs. Bahamas (7th Place Match)

17:45 – Guatemala vs. Trinidad and Tobago (5th Place Match)

19:00 – USA/Mexico vs. Costa Rica/El Salvador (3rd Place Match)

20:15 – USA/Mexico vs. Costa Rica/El Salvador (Final)

Tallman · « **Reply #160 on:** April 04, 2015, 06:00:19 PM »

LIVE STREAM: Guatemala vs Trinidad and Tobago (2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship 5th-place game). Match about to start.
http://new.livestream.com/bsww/concacafbeachsoccercampeonato2015

soccerman · « **Reply #161 on:** April 04, 2015, 07:05:07 PM »

Nice win, always good beating up on Guatemala

Deeks · « **Reply #162 on:** April 04, 2015, 08:38:57 PM »

Quote from: soccerman on April 04, 2015, 07:05:07 PM

Nice win, always good beating up on Guatemala

What was the score?

che · « **Reply #163 on:** April 04, 2015, 08:40:14 PM »

Good win guys. The Ref made some real bad calls against us. Our coach got sent off for protesting some of the bad calls.

Tallman · « **Reply #164 on:** April 04, 2015, 08:43:50 PM »

HIGHLIGHTS of T&T’s 4-3 win over Guatemala in the 5th place match at the 2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in El Salvador.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/wyQXuLO_jBU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/wyQXuLO_jBU</a>

Tallman · « **Reply #165 on:** April 05, 2015, 09:00:48 AM »

Trinidad and Tobago displays all-around skill in earning 5th place
beachsoccer.com

The 4-3 win for Trinidad and Tobago over Guatemala was a thorough use of energy on both halves of the pitch. Guatemala was on their heels in the opening minutes and were trying to run and catch-up for the entire match. Guatemala had more than enough firepower and weapons to make things tighter, which they did at times, but the Trinidad and Tobago energy and desire was too much. The win for the Soca Warriors puts them in 5th place, a very admirable position among the 16 highly competitive teams that took part in the tournament. The loss was not how Guatemala wanted to finish the event, but a sixth place finish is very difficult in CONCACAF and things could have been very different for Los Chapines had the ball bounced their way earlier in the week.

In a do-or-die fifth place match, Guatemala came out eh more determined side, however, their hunger did not equate to an instant goal like they had hoped. Trinidad and Tobago became renowned for their tenacity in this event and they displayed that like a lion showing his mane for all the world to see, but both sides headed into the final minutes without a goal. The goalless drought abruptly ended when Coker scored for the Soca Warriors putting the score at 1-0 late in the first 12 minutes. The lead could have ballooned higher, but Los Chapines still displayed their signature defense and goalkeeping, keeping matters close. Trinidad and Tobago added a late stabbing shot from Appoo to take a 2-0 lead into the first break. The Guatemalans needed only a few minutes in the second frame to capitalize on a chance that they similarly missed in the opening frame, cutting their deficit in half to 2-1, for Trinidad and Tobago. Both squads turned up the offensive intensity, scoring again the period, but it was Trinidad and Tobago that scored twice more, making the score 4-2 going into the last period.

Los Azules y Blancos still needed to find that much more offense while trying to slow down the Soca Warriors’ offense. The Guatemalans were about to do one of those things, the latter, and the score stayed at 4-2 for Trinidad and Tobago going into the heart of the period. The Guatemalans were far from finished and scored their third goal on the day late in the period to bring the score back to a one goal difference at 4-3 for Trinidad and Tobago. Guatemala could not get any close and a last second bicycle that looked to be the equalizer and the goal of tournament did not fall the Trinidad finished up 4-3.

Goals: 0-1: Coker, min. 4 (1); 0-2: Appoo, min. 1 (1); 1-2: Gonzalez, min. 8 (2); 1-3: Woodley, min. 7 (2); 2-3: Ochoa, min. 5 (2); 2-4: Stafford, min. 2 (2); 3-4: Gonzalez, min. 4 (3).

CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS EL SALVADOR 2015 (FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – CONCACAF QUALIFIER EL SALVADOR)

Results Today:

Saturday 04.04.15
16:30 – Jamaica 7-9 (aet) Bahamas (7th Place Match)
17:45 – Guatemala 3-4 Trinidad and Tobago (5th Place Match)
19:00 – USA vs. El Salvador (3rd Place Match)
20:15 – Mexico vs. Costa Rica (Final)

Deeks · « **Reply #166 on:** April 05, 2015, 10:35:15 AM »

Congrats!!!

Flex · « **Reply #167 on:** April 19, 2015, 05:13:29 AM »

Beach Soccer captain to train in Brazil
T&T Newsday Reports.

AFTER CAPTAINING the Trinidad and Tobago beach soccer team to fifth position at the CONCACAF qualifiers earlier this month, Ryan Augustine will make his much anticipated return in Brazil today, when he begins a three-week training regime with stalwart South American beach soccer clubs, Flamengo and Botafogo.

Augustine, who specialises in defensive play, was afforded this golden opportunity to elevate his professional career upon signing to The Brazil Link (TBL) Sports Management recently. TBL’s sport executive Narada Wilson welcomed Augustine to the unique football-oriented fraternity and revealed that this was the first time that any local footballer was provided with a chance to play for both top-flight Brazilian clubs.

Augustine will begin a two-week training stint with Flamengo today before the club departs for a tournament in Barcelona, Spain. He will also be provided with a one-week training spell with Botafogo.

The national beach soccer standout is expected to arrive in Brazil today, just hours before his first training session with Flamengo at the Copacabana Beach. Flamengo are presently in training for their trip to Spain as well as the Brazil Beach Soccer League, set to start in August.

Reports emanating after lunch yesterday revealed that Flamengo beach soccer coach Marcelo Santoro is eagerly awaiting to meet with Augustine in an effort to bolster his outfit for forthcoming competitions. Additionally, local beach soccer president Kyle Lequay and manager Yuri Chapman are pleased with this opportunity presented and have together embarked on getting other TT players more involved in initiatives such as these in an effort to boost the rapidly growing sport locally.

soccerman · « **Reply #168 on:** April 19, 2015, 09:02:53 AM »

All the best Augustine....glad to see that opportunities can becoming available to these guys.

asylumseeker · « **Reply #169 on:** July 08, 2015, 08:24:07 PM »

As a reminder, the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer WC kicks off from Portugal on Thursday, July 9 at 8:00am Trinidad & Tobago/ EST time with Italy v. Costa Rica.

Other matches slated for tomorrow are:

Portugal v Japan
Argentina v Senegal
Switzerland v Oman

The games are scheduled at intervals of 1.5 hours ... so the second game is @ 9:30am TT/EST etc.

Match times are perhaps inconvenient.

asylumseeker · « **Reply #170 on:** July 09, 2015, 09:06:04 AM »

Italy kick the party off in style
FIFA.com

Italy 6 Costa Rica 1

Gabriele Gori and Emmanuele Zurlo bagged five goals between them as Italy thumped Costa Rica 6-1 in the opening match of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

It took Gori merely 34 seconds to ripple the net in Espinho, only for Costa Rica to surprisingly equalise through Greivin Pacheco.

Possibility of an upset was short-lived, however, as two more goals from Gori, a Zurlo brace and an Andres Villegas own-goal sent Massimiliano Esposito’s in at the end of the second period leading 6-1.

That was how it finished as Italy took their foot off the gas in the final 12 minutes. Gli Azzurri, runners-up in the recent European qualifiers, go top of Group B, which also contains Switzerland and Oman.

Match Highlights

asylumseeker · « **Reply #171 on:** July 09, 2015, 09:09:50 AM »

Madjer double helps Portugal down Japan
FIFA.com

Portugal 4 Japan 2

A Madjer-inspired Portugal survived a late fightback from Japan to begin their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup campaign with a 4-2 success.

A double from the towering 38-year-old, a five time winner of this competition’s adidas Golden Shoe, and a Be Martins strike had Mario Narciso’s men cruising towards victory.

However, goals from Shotaro Haraguchi and Naoya Matsuo ensured a tense final four minutes. Japan pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Alan scored from a counter-attack to put the contest beyond their reach.

Argentina and Senegal also comprise Group A.

Match Highlights

asylumseeker · « **Reply #172 on:** July 09, 2015, 10:49:06 AM »

Argentina see off spirited Senegal
FIFA.com

Argentina 4 Senegal 3

Argentina overcame Senegal 4-3 to get their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup campaign off to a positive start.

Ibrahima Balde capitalised upon a Dardo Cortes fumble to fire the Africans ahead, but goals from Luciano Franceschini and Federico Hilaire sent the South Americans in ahead at the first break. Second-period efforts from Luciano Sirico and Facundo Minici seemingly put the game beyond Senegal’s reach.

However, Ibrahima Ndiaye’s team pulled one back 33 seconds into the final 12 minutes through Balde, before Papa Ndour reduced the Argentinians’ lead to 4-3 with less than a minute remaining.

It proved too little, too late, though, and Gustavo Casado’s duly moved level on points with Group A leaders Portugal, who beat Japan 4-2.

Match Highlights

asylumseeker · « **Reply #173 on:** July 09, 2015, 12:48:06 PM »

Ott hat-trick powers Swiss past Oman
FIFA.com

Switzerland 5 Oman 2

Switzerland got their Portugal 2015 campaign off to a strong start with a comfortable 5-2 win over Oman.

The match started off even with both sides exchanging early goals, but Swiss striker Noel Ott's brace in the first period gave the Europeans a lead they would no longer lose.

Oman looked to have a chance of a comeback victory when they scored to make it 4-2 in the second period, but Ott continued to shine for the Swiss and completed his hat-trick for a 5-2 win.

Switzerland go second in Group B behind Italy, who thrashed Costa Rica 6-1, on goal difference.

Match Highlights

End of Day 1 action.

asylumseeker · « **Reply #174 on:** July 09, 2015, 01:01:43 PM »

Beach Soccer: a quick guide to the key rules
FIFA.com

Just like the previous editions of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Portugal 2015 is sure to supply spectacular action, emotions aplenty and more than the odd surprise. However, the features that differentiate beach soccer from traditional 11-a-side football or futsal make the game a unique discipline, with certain rules important to take into account whenever watching a match. FIFA.com brings you a closer look at these regulatory issues, in time for the start of the competition on 9 July.

Three twelve-minute periods
Beach soccer matches are divided into three periods with a net length of twelve minutes each, divided by two three-minute breaks. By net length, we mean that the clock stops whenever there is a goal, an infraction or when the match officials think a team is wasting time. If the ball is in play, the referee will not end a period until a move has run its course.

No draws allowed
A beach soccer match can be won or lost, but never drawn. Should the scores be level, the rules stipulate that a three-minute extra-time period should be played, with the winning team awarded two points as opposed to three for a victory within regulation time. If the sides can still not be separated, a penalty shootout will take place, with each team shooting three penalties kicks. If that is not enough, the golden goal rule applies, with the winning team awarded one point. Unlike a shootout in 11-a-side, in beach soccer the shootout is sudden death from the start, with the winning team awarded two points as opposed to three for a victory within regulation time. The losing team earn no points.

Unlimited substitutions
Every team begins each match with five players out on the sand – one goalkeeper and four outfield players – as well as seven substitutes, though there is no limit to the number of changes that can be made. All substitutions, including goalkeepers, can be made while play is still going on, for which reason there is a designated area for this to take place. The unlimited nature of changes makes this a key strategic factor during matches.

Disciplinary sanctions
A player who is sent off, be it for two bookings or a straight red, can be replaced by a substitute after a two-minute penalty, just as in futsal. Nevertheless, the substitute could come into play before those two minutes are up if the opposing team scores with their numerical advantage. There is no pre-set number of fouls that individual players must not exceed.

Goalkeeping peculiarities
Goalkeepers can move freely around their penalty area with the ball in their hands and, unlike other footballing disciplines, this area is marked out by a horizontal line across the whole pitch. Like any other player, keepers have four seconds to get the ball into play, which they can only do so by using their hands. However, they cannot score this way or by kicking the ball out on the volley, an offence that would be penalised by a free-kick. It is also important to note that the ball cannot be returned to a goalkeeper by a team-mate unless at least one opponent has touched it first. Breaking this rule results in a free-kick to the opposing team.

Free-kicks: direct only
Every infraction of the rules is sanctioned with a direct free-kick, with no wall permitted! The kick is taken from the spot where the foul was committed, except in the cases of penalty kicks (taken from the penalty spot) or time-wasting, passing the ball back to the goalkeeper or the keeper kicking the ball into play, with the free-kick taken from the halfway line in the latter three cases. What's more, in the case of foul play, the kick must be taken by the player who was fouled – unless injury prevents this. The player has four seconds to play the ball after the referee’s whistle, or the free-kick will be awarded for the opposite team.

In case of doubt
Unlike the 11-a-side game but similarly to futsal, goals cannot be scored directly from kick-off and there is no offside. And, in another intriguing feature of this sport, throw-ins can be taken with either hands or feet.

#10000

asylumseeker · « **Reply #175 on:** July 10, 2015, 08:22:01 AM »

Iran comeback stuns Spain
FIFA.com

Iran 6 Spain 5

Iran have come from behind to beat Spain 6-5 in one of the tightest and most entertaining matches at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup thus far. The Asian side struck twice in the final couple of minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, with Mohammad Mokhtari's winning goal - his second of the match - consigning the 2013 runners-up to an unexpected loss.

The crowd were entertained from the very start, with a thrilling first period capped by a spectacular effort by Spain's Llorenc to put the Europeans 3-2 up. Chances continued to prove plentiful in the second period too, with neither side able to take a firm grip and Mokhtari providing the pick of the goals with a beautifully struck volley.

That left all to play for in the third and decisive period, during which the action became increasingly fierce and frenetic. And while Spain looked to have won it when Antonio rounded off his hat-trick to make it 5-4 with just five minutes remaining, Iran had other ideas.

As the clock ticked down, they provided a knockout double blow to the 2013 finalists, drawing level through an Ezequeil own goal before sealing the points when Mokhtari chipped cleverly home following a fumble by goalkeeper Dona.

Match Highlights

asylumseeker · « **Reply #176 on:** July 10, 2015, 08:24:44 AM »

Russia fight to victory over tenacious Paraguay
FIFA.com

Russia 7 Paraguay 5

Reigning FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup holders Russia were forced to battle hard to get the latest defence of their title off to a perfect start, beating Paraguay 7-5.

The game brought back memories of their group stage meeting two years ago when the South Americans took the champions to extra-time, only to end up on the losing side again. Now at their second-ever Beach Soccer World Cup, Paraguay started with a bang. They found themselves stunningly two up inside 150 seconds, as Juan Lopez and Pedro Moran struck with an early pair of blows.

They could not hold that lead in place though, as one the favourites in Portugal roared back into contention, swinging the pendulum back into their favour as they went 3-2 up early in the second period.

By the end of it though it looked like there was an absolute thriller on the cards. With the scores tied at 4-4 it was anybody's game but the boys in burgundy really found top gear in the final stages, pulling clear in part thanks to a brace from Tahiti 2013 adidas Golden Ball winner Dmitri Shishin.

Match Highlights

asylumseeker · « **Reply #177 on:** July 10, 2015, 11:56:08 AM »

Tahiti edges ambitious Madagascar
FIFA.com

Tahiti 4 Madagascar 3

Tahiti were able to hold off newcomers Madagascar in a closely-contested 4-3 Group C match.

The Polynesian side went into their Portugal 2015 opener with confidence after a memorable fourth-place finish when they hosted the tournament in 2013. However, it took the Malagasy just over a minute to record their first-ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ goal when Damely scored.

Tina then caught the Tahitians off guard and gave the African champions a two-goal lead less than two minutes into the match. Soon the Oceanian side were back though and they were able to level the score to 3-3 at the end of an entertaining first period. Halfway into the second period, captain Naea Bennett put Tahiti ahead by converting a penalty kick and from then on the game went into a tight gridlock, with scarce clear opportunities and a rare span of almost 20 minutes without a goal, which led to the final 4-3 score.

Match Highlights

asylumseeker · « **Reply #178 on:** July 10, 2015, 12:00:03 PM »

Brazil begin with comfortable win over Mexico
FIFA.com

Brazil 5 Mexico 1

Brazil kicked off their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015™ campaign with a confident 5-1 win over Mexico in Group C.

The Four-time champions had reason to play with a swagger having won the South American qualifiers, but their opponents Mexico also came into the contest as continental champions, so Brazil knew they had to put in a quality performance in Espinho.

Brazil scored three first period goals to send out a strong message to the tournament that they will be true contenders in the competition. All three goals came from different goalscorers — Rodrigo, Bokinha and Tahiti 2013 adidas Golden Ball winner Bruno Xavier.

Their goals paved the way for Brazil to begin their campaign with a confident win, despite a goalless second period. An own goal by Gonzalez and another goal scored by Mauricinho left the Brazilians in a comfortable position to seal a 5-1 victory.

End of Day 2 action.

asylumseeker · « **Reply #179 on:** July 11, 2015, 09:48:12 AM »

Italy edge towards quarters
FIFA.com

Italy 4 Oman 2

Italy moved to within touching distance of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 quarter-finals after they secured a 4-2 win over Oman to solidify their place at the top of Group B.

The pair had never met before and, backed by a vocal local crowd rooting for the underdog, the Gulf side took an early lead through Yahya Al Araimi.

It lasted only four minutes though, as two goals in 25 seconds allowed the third-place finishers in Europe to fight back, as Emmanuele Zurlo and Simone Marinai saw the tide turn.

Gabriele Gori added to his hat-trick in the 6-1 win over Costa Rica to gain control and, despite Khalid Al Oraimi giving Oman hope, Zurlo's superb overhead kick sealed the points for Italy. Oman's hopes of making the next round rely on Costa Rica picking up a win against Switzerland.

Match Highlights