Senegal's victory over Brazil, Switzerland's 10 goals and Tahiti's departure: what are the highlights of the Beach Soccer World Cup quarterfinals

Incredible comeback

The world championship in Russia gave the fans a lot of loud sensations.

At the group stage, the most notable of them was the absence of the reigning world champions of the Portuguese in the playoffs.

However, Brazil's defeat to Senegal in the quarterfinals, perhaps, overshadowed this event.

The yellow-greens, with a number of stars in their roster, did not easily enter the tournament and even suffered defeat from Switzerland, however, it seemed that they would deal with the African team in class, which had never in history reached the World Cup beyond the first round of the playoffs.

However, from the first minutes it became clear that the opponent would at least give the favorite a fight.

Moreover, the team was driven forward by a noisy sector of fans located in the corner of the stadium.

They did not stop talking for a minute, danced, beat tambourines and attracted the attention of the entire arena.

Every now and then they were approached with a request to be photographed.

The beginning did not bode well for Hispanics.

Rodrigo quickly opened an account thanks to a successful ricochet.

But the opponent fought back closer to the break.

Mamur Dianye scored after a great kick into the game by the goalkeeper.

A minute and a half later, Al Seini Ndiaye again came to the fore - parried a penalty from the captain of opponents Catarino.

In the second period, the Senegalese continued to fight, but the Brazilians managed to score twice in the class.

At a difficult moment, the team was led forward by the captain.

Catarino first distinguished himself on his own, and then gave an assist to Ze Lucas - 3: 1.

At that moment, the favorite, apparently, was finally confident in his own success and relieved the pressure. To the credit of Omar Silla's wards, they did not give up and in the final 12-minute they managed to restore the balance in the score to the delight of their fans, who almost ran out to the site. First, goalkeeper Ndiaye made another effective throw on a partner, and then the main star of the team, Raoul Mendy, implemented a free kick in 2 minutes and 14 seconds before the end.

The South Americans could not but break down what happened, because they already saw themselves in the semifinals.

Opponent was on the rise after an incredible comeback.

And in extra time it played a decisive role.

Fatal for the team of Gilberto Da Costa was the mistake of goalkeeper Padilla.

He played unsuccessfully at the exit and hit the ball with his fists on Mendy, who had no right to miss such a chance and scored a double.

In total, the forward in the tournament now has seven effective strikes.

The Brazilians were forced to go forward with the whole team and immediately missed a counterattack, which was completed by Diane Mandione.

The yellow-green hands did not let go and, less than a minute before the end, even reduced the gap to a minimum.

The double was designed by Rodrigo.

They even had a chance to escape, but the departure of Senegal after such a comeback would be a great injustice.

After the final whistle at the stadium, real madness began.

Some footballers of the African team were crying, buried in the sand.

Others rushed to the stands.

And Ndiaye climbed the gate at all.

Meanwhile, the fans jumped in such a way that it became frankly scary for the arena.

The Brazilians sat quietly on their bench.

The team, made up of stars, did not become a star team and for the second time in a row flew out from the World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

An undeniable advantage

But in the confrontation between Switzerland and Uruguay, the struggle, unfortunately, did not work out.

On Tuesday, the South Americans won an incredible victory over Portugal and knocked the reigning world champion out of the tournament.

Apparently, in this match the team left all their strength and emotions, since on Thursday they did not succeed in absolutely anything.

The sand on this day was completely dominated by experienced Alpines.

Already in the first period, they hit the opponent's goal three times.

But the wards of Herman Parillo, shortly before the break, managed to close the gap in the long run.

Niko converted a free kick.

There was a feeling that the team will return to the game.

But this was the last goal for the Uruguayans.

The Europeans continued to swagger.

The most productive footballer of the meeting was Glenn Hodel, who issued poker.

Moreover, he scored his last two goals with spectacular blows through himself.

But the main star in the Alpine team, Dejan Stankovic, who celebrated his 36th birthday the day before, was frankly modest.

For a long time, only one assist was listed in his asset.

But shortly before the final whistle, Alejandro Guerrero made him a “gift”.

The goalkeeper simply threw the ball at the striker and he easily punished the counterpart.

Thus, the experienced striker scored the ninth goal in the tournament and became the leader of the scorer race.

The meeting ended with a curious own goal of the Uruguayans.

Niko, without looking at the goalkeeper, threw the ball back, and the goalkeeper decided to play at the exit and only watched in amazement as the projectile flies into the net - 1:10.

So the Swiss national team for the first time since 2009 reached the semifinals of the World Cup.

In parallel, she became the author of a remarkable achievement.

For the first time in 16 years, the World Cup playoff match ended with a difference of nine goals.

In 2005, Brazil defeated Japan in the bronze medal match - 11: 2.

Stunning denouement

The confrontation between Tahiti and Japan promised to turn out to be very curious, because it was impossible to determine the favorite in it.

At the last World Cup, the Asians sensationally reached the semifinals, and in Moscow they beat Paraguay and the United States, but lost to Russia - 1: 7 and dropped to second place in Group A. for coronavirus, unexpectedly outstripped the Spaniards in Quartet B. And they managed to beat the Europeans in a super-productive duel - 12: 8.

However, the quarterfinal match began extremely unsuccessfully for the two-time World Cup finalists.

In the middle of the first period, they created their own problems by making a couple of gross mistakes.

First, Teaonyi Theo, trying to interrupt the opponent's cross from the left flank, independently ferried the ball into the corner.

Then experienced playing coach Teva Zaveroni broke the rules at Shusei Yamauchi.

The victim confidently converted the penalty, breaking through the center.

So, in just 21 seconds, Japan scored twice.

After such a blow, Tahiti could not come to their senses for a long time.

Only shortly before the break, they managed to create a couple of chances at the gate of Yusuke Kawai.

Return to the game in the second period helped the team Yamauchi, who chalked up the second goal.

This time he played with his hand near his goal and gave the opponent the opportunity to shoot a penalty.

Tamatoa Tetauira coolly converted the nine-meter and revived the intrigue.

The final 12 minutes gave the fans an incredible intrigue.

The Tahitians increased the pressure and literally pushed the opponent to the goal.

For the time being, the Asians were saved only by Ozu Moreira, who made a large number of interceptions and tackles.

But in the middle of the period he turned out to be powerless when Zhervais Chan Kat outplayed his opponent and accurately shot into the far corner.

And 23 seconds before the end, the Tahiti national team took the lead at all and, it seemed, secured a victory for themselves.

Takumi Uesato cut the ball into his own goal and barely held back the tears on the bench.

However, it was too early to get upset, because his team immediately recouped.

After playing the ball from the center of the site, Moreira made a pass to the right to Takaaki Oba, who, with a ricochet from the sand, sent the projectile into the far corner - 3: 3.

In extra time, the "swing" continued.

Asiatov brought forward Masanori Okuyama, but the opponent went ahead and immediately bounced back.

Tetauira delivered a magnificent powerful blow to the rally almost from the center of the site.

But the victory still remained with Japan. Moreover, the decisive goal of Takuya Akaguma turned out to be no less beautiful. The football player, after the transfer of his partner, struck into the far corner with side scissors. With 11 seconds left, the Tahitians earned a dangerous free kick and could have escaped, but Kawai saved the team twice and helped it reach the World Cup semifinals for the second time in a row.