Argentina is the new continental beach soccer champion and will play in the 2013 World Cup along with Paraguay and Brazil.
Argentina was able to get their first beach soccer title on Sunday by beating Paraguay in the final 6-2 of the Sudamericano qualifiers for the Beach Soccer World Cup.
Nine of the ten South America associations took part in the tournament that was held in the city of Merlo, in San Luis Province, Argentina. Héctor Petrasso’s team has qualified for Tahiti 2013 along with Paraguay and Brazil who placed 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The Beach Soccer World Cup will be held from the 18th of September to the 28th in Papeete the capital of Tahiti. There is where Paraguay will make their debut in the competition. Paraguay was the surprise of the qualifiers coming in 2nd place and surprising Brazil beating them on penalties in the semifinals. It is of note that Paraguay was almost eliminated in the group stage. They made it to the semifinals thanks to an incredible win over Chile in the last game.
Sunday, February 17 results:
10:30 – Colombia 4-3 Peru (Playoff for 7th place)
13:00 – Brazil 11-5 Ecuador (3rd and 4th places)
14:15 – Argentina 6-2 Paraguay (FINAL)
Final qualification:
CHAMPION: Argentina
Runerup: Paraguay
3rd: Brazil
4th: Ecuador
5th: Chile
6th: Uruguay
7th: Colombia
8th: Perú
9th: Venezuela
Individual awards:
MVP: Luciano Franceschini (ARG)
Top goal scorer: Bruno Xavier (BRA), 13 goals.
Best goalkeeper: Marcelo Salgueiro (ARG)
Fair Play: Peru
The awards were given out by Eugenio Figueredo, Vicepresident of CONMEBOL and a FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member; Claudio Poggi, Governor of San Luis Province; Gloria Petrino, Merlo city Mayor; Damian Dupiellet, AFA Beach Soccer Commision President; Ivana Bianchi, Vicepresident of the Sports Commision for the Argentine House of Representatives; Adelaira Muñiz, Sports Minister of San Luis Province; Josep Ponset, Head of FIFA Beach Soccer Competitions.
Argentina sits upon the continental throne (6-2)
Argentina has taken over the throne vacated by Brazil and is the new South American king. The party was underway after Argentina defeated Paraguay in the final and qualified for the Beach Soccer World Cup.
Only a few days after the dramatic Argentinian victory over Paraguay during the group phase in the driving rain, these two teams meant again to decide who would be standing on the top podium as champion of the tournament. As if it would be any other way, fans filled to the brim the seating areas of the Merlo Recreative Parque to give more life and noise to the contest.
This time Petrasso’s team dominated the proceedings. Encouraged by their fans, Argentina came out determined to take over the game and if not for Paraguayan goalkeeper Ayala, Argentina would have had many goals on the board. As it was Paraguayan Barrientos got the first goal of the game and silenced the crowd.
The Argentinians didn’t ponder on the Paraguayan goal too long as a few minutes later, after an exceptional run up, Levi put the ball in the net before a charging Ayala. The goalposts stopped Paraguay, coached by Cayo Villalba, from taking the lead at the start of the second period. Argentina took advantage of Paraguays near misses and took the lead 2-1 off an excellent free kick from a tough angle from Leguizamón. Captain Franceshini, named best player of the tournament, added to the lead with an impressive tipped shot from midfield that brought the second period to a close.
Argentina kept up the onslaught. Medero welcomed the last 12 minutes with a spectacular volley which put four goals up on the scoreboard for Argentina. Paraguay tried to get back in the game in the middle of the third period when Zayas scored a goal off a header. But barely two minutes later E. Hilaire stretched the lead to three again with a goal and shortly after that goal his brother Santiago finished off the game by adding a goal to make it 6-2. The final whistle brought a close to Brazil’s dominance of this tournament with Argentina now taking over the South American throne.
Goals: 1-0: E. Barrientos, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Levi, min. 1 (1); 1-2: Leguizamón, min. 9 (2); 1-3: Franceschini, min. 4 (2); 1-4: Medero, min. 11 (3); 2-4: Zayas, min. 6 (3); 2-5: E. Hilaire, min. 4 (3); 2-6: S. Hilaire, min. 3 (3).
Brazil doesn’t miss out on the World Cup (11-5)
Brazil couldn’t let it happen and didn’t. In the game that would decide the third and last team to make it to the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Brazil was able to outlast Ecuador and book their place.
It appeared Brazil wanted to take charge from the get-go and Buru, taking advantage of an Ecuadorian defensive mistake, put the ball into the Saltos’s net after barely two minutes had expired in the game making the score 1-0. The top goal scorer of the tournament, Bruno Xavier, stretched the lead to two a few seconds later with a strike off a passing combination with teammate Benjamín.
Álava cut away at the lead for Ecuador by scoring a goal but it was answered right back by Daniel and Sidney to give Brazil a three goal lead. Before the close of the first period Barre scored again.
The second period would bring Alcides Silva’s players closer on the score board. With the score at 1-2 the horn blew to end the period with Ecuador just one goal behind the four time champion. But that would drastically change during the third period. Junior Negão’s men would go up 6-1 and quash any hopes the Ecuadorians had. This result secured Brazil’s ticket for the next World cup in Tahiti. Ecuador had an amazing tournament and their play shows that they are one of the best teams on the continent.
Goals: 1-0: Buru, min, 9 (1); 2-0: Bruno Xavier, min. 8 (1) ; 2-1 : Álava, min. 5 (1) ; 3-1 : Daniel, min. 3 (1) ; 4-1 : Sidney, min. 2 (1) ; 4-2 : Barre, min. 0 (1) ; 5-2 : Bruno Xavier, min 10 (2) ; 5-3 : Quiñones, min. 4 (2) ; 5-4 : Cevallos, min. 1 (2) ; 6-4 : Bruno Xavier, min. 8 (3) ; 6-5 : Delgado, min. 8 (3); 7-5: Bruno Xavier, min. 7 (3); 8-5: Benjamin, min. 6 (3); 9-5: Benjamin, min. 5 (3); 10-5: Fernando DDI, min. 4 (3); 11-5: Bruno Xavier, min. 3 (3).
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