The playoffs of the World Beach Soccer Championship in Paraguay started with a very interesting confrontation between Brazil and Russia for the fans of this sport. Both teams have winners from past tournaments, and the Russian team even has several double champions - those who have known success in 2011 and 2013, just beating the Brazilians on the way to the gold medals.
It was not clear why the organizers put such an intriguing match between the two leaders of the world ranking first among all the quarter finals. In this tournament, the time of the starting whistle is of great importance - in the afternoon in Paraguay it is extremely hot, and the temperature comfortable for playing is set only late in the evening. The Russians for the third time had to go out onto the sand in the heat of over 35 ºC. In addition, they had only one day of rest, while other teams got two days off before the playoffs.
At the same time, the Russian team could not play against the Brazilians in full force. The most experienced players Alexey Makarov and Arthur Paporotny earned the quarter-final disqualifications. Given that the two-time world champions hardly passed the group stage, their losses could seriously affect the result of a meeting with Brazil. South Americans, by contrast, in the first stage of the World Cup were unstoppable and won three matches with a total score of 29:11.
The Brazilians immediately started the match from a position of strength - already in the ninth second Rodrigo struck the post. They did not reduce the pressure, and before the expiration of the first minute at the gates of Maxim Chuzhkov another super-dangerous moment arose. The goalkeeper coped with the first shot at point blank range, but finishing Rodrigo allowed 14-time world champions to open an account.
But skipping so early is quite permissible in beach soccer. Immediately, the game turned around 180 degrees, and captain Anton Shkarin checked the Brazilian goalkeeper Mao for strength with a long-range strike. Replacing Ferny Ostap Fedorov also showed how he is able to beat. Fedor Zemskov equalized the score at the end of the second minute - he brilliantly realized the corner.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper of the Brazilian national team avenged in an incredible way. Entering the ball into the game after a long coinage, he suddenly decided to break through from a distance and hit the net of the Russian goal, after which he pleased the few fans who were not afraid of the heat with a fun celebration. The Brazilian national team stepped forward, although for several minutes they could not play the ball next to Chuzhkov.
In the middle of the first period, an extremely unpleasant episode occurred - Anton Novikov and Antonio collided their heads. The Russian was breaking the rules, but since the Brazilian temporarily left the field, one of the strongest players in the world Bruno Javier volunteered to break the standard instead. Fortunately, the blow from the most convenient position was inaccurate. Before the first period, the Brazilians have repeatedly tried to increase the gap, the Russians had fewer chances to equalize.
Rodrigo on the second attempt achieved a quick goal. Bruno Javier from the left flank gave the pass at hand of Chuzhkov, and the gate in front of the Brazilian player was open. At the tenth second of the second period, the score was 3: 1. Soon, Rodrigo could become the author of a hat-trick - he unexpectedly performed a blow through himself, although at that time he was closely watched by a player from the Russian national team. Fortunately, the Brazilian hit the crossbar.
No one else showed such a chic game to South Americans, and this drawback had to be used. The Russians just tried to confuse the opponent as much as possible with the number of their performers. After unsuccessful attempts by a number of young players, the master class was shown by Dmitry Shishin. The 33-year-old footballer struck through himself with the transfer of Yuri Krasheninnikov, returning the fans several years ago, when the names of this bunch were booming at the world championships.
Until the end of the second period, the Russians did not release the ball and tried to play it to the last. And such tactics allowed to accomplish what seemed impossible before the start of the match. Cyril Romanov took advantage of Shkarin's pass to even the score before the final 12-minute. This has not happened with Brazil in Paraguay.
The opponent’s coaching staff replaced Mao with Rafa Padilla, who usually sits forever on the bench. He immediately had to play the game after a free-kick performed by Chuzhkov. Rodrigo no longer bothered the Russians from the first seconds, the Brazilians generally lost speed and the desire to fight cleanly for every ball. Chuzhkov, on the other hand, not only reflected long-range strikes, but also instantly dispersed the attacks. One of them allowed us to finally get ahead - Romanov gracefully tweaked a distant pass with his foot and scored a double 5:36 before the end of the match.
Brazil could even the score - a mistake in defense allowed Datinha to shoot at close range on the goal of the Russians. But Chuzhkov saved his team from a goal that could inspire the Brazilians to new exploits. From that moment, the Russians began to pay maximum attention to the defense game, and Shishin’s experience was especially useful - if Chuzhkov took the blows in the last seconds, he managed to prepare for them.
Nine seconds before the end, the double moment at the gates of the Russian team ended in nothing, and Likhachev's wards won the match, which can be called an early ending. Brazil only for the second time in its history could not break into the semifinals. Instead, it was done by the Russian team, which will now wait for the winner of the meeting between Italy and Switzerland to play a ticket with him to the main match of the World Cup.