12 seconds before the end of overtime: how Russia snatched victory from the United States in the opening match of the Beach Soccer World Cup

In beach soccer, the confrontation between Russia and the United States cannot be called principled.

Here the teams are simply at opposite poles of the world rankings.

The national team invariably fights for victory at all major international tournaments and twice became the world champion.

Americans, on the other hand, are more likely to play the role of extras.

An eloquent fact - in the previous five world championships, they have never even been able to get out of the group.

Moreover, at best they were content with one victory.

And at the previous World Cup in Paraguay, the United States lost all three matches with a total score of 10:17.

Despite this, the hosts' mentor Mikhail Likhachev emphasized in every possible way that "the first game stands apart" and in no case should the opponent be underestimated.

The wards echoed him.

In particular, goalkeeper Maksim Chuzhkov refused to call his opponent an outsider of Quartet A. According to Artur Ferorotny, it is difficult to single out favorites in the tournament.

It is curious that before meeting in Moscow, the paths of Russia and the United States crossed only once.

In the group stage of the 2014 Intercontinental Cup, two-time world champions left the Americans no chance - 5: 1.

The hat-trick was then scored by Dmitry Shishin, who was included in the application for the home World Cup.

However, the status of the opponent did not bother the fans at all, who filled the stadium built specifically for the tournament near the Luzhniki stadium by exactly the permitted half.

People came to the arena a few hours before the match and enjoyed the good weather in the fan zone.

Fortunately, the rain promised by forecasters never started.

Moreover, football fans from various cities gathered to watch the game.

Many came with their whole families.

“Even if we have to live in conditions of coronavirus, we could not miss such an event.

Today it is as if he is back at the time of the 2018 World Cup, ”said Alexey from St. Petersburg, who came to the match with two children.

VIP fans also attended the meeting.

For example, the famous actor Dmitry Kharatyan, on the eve of the start of the Russian national team, performed the "Song of the Epee".

It was hoped that the "ready-made" would have to be carried away by the Americans.

The guests were not left without support.

Near the arena, about ten people were seen wearing US national team jerseys.

It is curious that the stands were not empty at other games either.

For example, during the confrontation between Japan and Paraguay, they were almost half full.

After that, it was no longer surprising that the organizers complained about speculation in tickets at a special press conference.

And immediately before the game of the national team, the stadium screens included an address by the country's President Vladimir Putin, who emphasized that "receiving guests widely and cordially is a national trait of Russians" and wished the strongest "to win in an honest and bright fight."

The first period turned out to be ambiguous for the Russian national team.

Likhachev's wards did not seem to cope with the excessive excitement and started the match unsuccessfully.

Nicolas Perea almost sent the ball into the goal from his half of the field with his first blow.

The domestic team did not listen to the dangerous call and soon missed it.

All the same Perea, after a partner discount from the center, struck into the near corner with a rebound from the crossbar.

Chuzhkov, with all his desire, could not help.

Interestingly, the incident had no effect on the behavior of the fans.

During the rally in the center of the court, the DJ muffled the sound on purpose so that they could support the hosts by chanting "Russia".

The stadium at that moment was literally shaking.

Two-time world champions had no choice but to go ahead.

However, for the time being they did not succeed in everything.

The Americans, unexpectedly leading the score, acted uncompromisingly and bravely.

Moreover, it could not be said that the guests with the whole team were on the defensive.

On the contrary, at the first opportunity they organized rather dangerous counter-attacks and disturbed Chuzhkov.

However, the pressure from the Russians grew stronger.

Experienced Shishin missed several points.

Fyodor Zemskov inflicted a dangerous blow to his head in the fall, but the US team was saved by Chris Thoth, who in general repeatedly rescued his comrades.

And after another shot by Zemskov, the barbell played on the side of the Americans.

But shortly before the break, the pressure of the favorite still bore fruit.

Boris Nikonorov pressed two defenders at once and forced them to make a mistake.

The striker took advantage of the blot in cold blood and sent the projectile into the net.

The second period also began unsuccessfully for the Likhachev team.

No sooner had the teams returned to the court than the referee Lucas Estevao appointed a penalty.

There were no questions about this decision of the referee, because Zemskov at his gate obviously piled Alessandro Canale on the sand.

Especially for the nine-meter coaching staff, he changed Chuzhkov to Stanislav Kosharny, but this did not help.

The goalkeeper, although he guessed the direction of the ball and reached for it, failed to save the owners.

This time, the Russians bounced back much faster, and helped them level the score with a foul by the opponent.

Shkarin got on his legs in the immediate vicinity of the gate and left no chance for Thoth.

A shell ricocheted from the sand flew into the net.

After that, the domestic team could no longer be stopped. Shortly before the break, the hosts scored two goals one after the other, both with their heads. First Nikonorov closed Alexei Makarov's cross at the far post, demonstrating perfect scoring flair, and then Andrei Novikov took advantage of the serve from the corner of the field and sent the projectile on target - 4: 2.

But even the successful ending of the period did not help the Russian national team to start the final well.

Likhachev's wards again missed a quick ball.

This time, a little more than a minute was enough for the Americans to upset the owners.

The US national team began an effective attack with the goalkeeper putting the projectile into the game.

Then Nick Perera was allowed to take the ball and perform a discount on the same Channel.

Age Shishin failed to cover the opponent, and that rally shot on target and scored a double.

The intrigue in the confrontation was revived almost instantly.

However, it cannot be said that the US team actively went ahead in the hope of recouping.

On the contrary, the national team continued to act as "number one" and created chances.

In particular, Nikonorov and Novikov missed good chances to excel.

It seemed that three points from the team would not go anywhere.

However, the opponent needed only one moment to equalize the score, and they got it.

Five minutes before the end of regular time, the Americans earned a corner, which was really happy for them.

Kosharny made a mistake when playing on the way out and allowed Perea to send the projectile into an empty target without hindrance.

So, in the composition of the Americans, another take author appeared.

The Russians missed the victory, which seemed to go into their hands, and allowed the opponent to escape.

The fate of the confrontation between the players had to be determined already in extra time.

And the denouement came 12 seconds before its end. The Americans selflessly defended themselves, but missed a free-kick. And the rules were violated by the Channel, who did everything for the US team to give the favorite a fight. But in the end he committed a foul on Makarov in a dangerous position. Alexey had no right to miss from such a distance. He sent the projectile into the far corner and brought the two-time world champions the hardest strong-willed victory in extra time - 5: 4.