The 6-5 overtime victory for Azerbaijan over England was one of the most amazing matches of the weeked, with both teams scoring in bunches and taking leads, then giving them back, ultimately ending in a tie after regulation. The extra frame was a microcosm of the entire game, with one team, in this case Azerbaijan, scoring but the opponent having the chance to answer but in the extra frame the English could not find the reply. The win gives Azerbaijan top in Division B Group 1 and they will head to Estonia for the Promotion Final with a very high seed. England still qualified for the Promotion as third in the group.
The two sides had both already qualified for the Promotion but the group standings were still undecided and more importantly, the seedings were still to be decided, so much was still riding on this game. Azerbaijan took control early by scoring on a rocket from Orkhan, but the Azerbaijani had not seized complete control as Temple slotted home his first of the day. The Land of Fire replied immediately, on te restart in fact, to regain the slim one goal lead. That lead held almost the rest of the period, but Day knocked home a rebound for the Three Lions, which leveled the score at 2 going into the first break. The second period had near misses but also spectacular strikes, including two blasts from Azerbaijan, pushing their lead to 4-2, but I was a last second penalty kick awarded to Evans that brought the English back to within one goal at 4-3 heading into the last period.
England has seen themselves down before in this event included, but they have a knack for making things interesting and winning or, in the very least, giving their side a chance to win, and the final frame drama began on the 3rd period restart when Day added his second score of the match. England was not finished yet, not even done with his exploits in the same minute, as he scored his third, giving his team their first lead, at 5-4. The Azerbaijani were pressing and looking for the equalizer but the door did not open for them and going into the final minutes of the match, despite being on their heels, the English team was up 5-4. All of that changed when the Azerbaijan goalie took a shot at net and the shot was deflected in, leveling the score at 5-5 with only minutes to play. Neither side could score another goal in regulation and the score stayed 5-5 going to overtime. Azerbaijan scored quickly to take the 6-5 lead but a penalty kick on the restart gave England the chance for an equalizer but they were unable to convert and the match finshed with Azerbaijan winning by a score of 6-5.
Goals: 1-0: Orkhan, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Temple, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Asif, min. 7 (1); 2-2: Day, min. 1 (1); 3-2: Sabir, min. 10 (2); 4-2: Ramil, min. 0 (2); 4-3: Evans, min. 0 (2); 4-4: Day, min. 11 (3); 4-5: Day, min. 11 (3); 5-5: Sabir, min. 4 (3); 6-5: Renat, min. 2 (et).
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE 2015 SIÓFOK
Results Today:
Sunday 09.08.15
10:45 - Norway 4-0 Andorra (Division B Group 2)
12:00 - Moldova 3(2)-3(3) (pso) Romania (Division B Group 1)
13:15 - Turkey 6-2 Czech Republic (Division B Group 2)
14:30 - Azerbaijan 6-5 (aet)England (Division B Group 1)
15:45 - Switzerland vs Ukraine (Division A)
17:00 - Hungary vs Spain (Division A)
19.08.2015 |