Ukraine beach soccer team beats Norway for second time in World Cup 2025 Qualifiers, faces France in upcoming playoffs

08.10.2024 20:23

Today, on October 8, the Ukraine beach soccer team played their third match in the European qualification for the World Cup 2025, which is taking place in Cádiz, Spain.

After a victory in Group F against Norway (8:2) and a defeat by Poland (1:8), the Ukrainian team faced Norway once again. This was due to the withdrawal of the Romanian and Turkish national teams from the tournament before it began, leaving three teams in several groups. To ensure fairness in determining the playoff participants, the organizers decided to hold additional playoff matches between the teams that finished in second and third places in these groups.

Thus, under the guidance of Mykola Kostenkо, the team played against Norway today. In the first period, Ivan Hlutskyi opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, and in the second period, he doubled the lead with a free kick in the 14th minute. When Tymofiy Lystopad scored the third goal for the Blue and Yellows in the 19th minute, it seemed that the Ukrainians would have no problems. However, before the second break, Risanger and Paulos narrowed their team's deficit to a minimum, making it 3:2.

Nevertheless, at the beginning of the final 12-minute period, Andriy Pashko skillfully maneuvered on the left flank and accurately struck into the far corner. When Ihor Levchenko converted a set piece in the 28th minute, the outcome of the match was practically decided. It was then time for Andriy Borsuk, who also found the net with a free kick, putting the finishing touch on the match.

Thus, the final score was 6:2 in favor of the Ukrainian team, who will face France in the playoffs tomorrow. The match is set to begin at 11:15 AM Kyiv time.

World Cup 2025 Qualifiers. European Qualification. Group F

Ukraine – Norway – 6:2

Goals: Hlutskyi (3, 14), Lystopad (19), Pashko (26), I. Levchenko (28), A. Borsuk (29) — Risanger (21), Paulos (21).

Ukraine: Nerush, Poslavskyi, Pazenko, Hlutskyi, M. Levchenko, A. Borsuk, Lystopad, I. Levchenko, Zborovskyi, Pashko, Sirenko, Ross.

Norway: Brekken, Aga, Haga, Gellebast, Li, Risanger, Paulos, Holand, Bidro, Hare, Li Pak, Kandal.

Booked: A. Borsuk (21), I. Levchenko (36) — Hare (29), Gellebast (34).

Standings

Beach Soccer World Cup 2025. European Qualification. Round of 16

October 9, 2024

10:00 Denmark vs. Moldova

11:15 France vs. Ukraine

12:30 Switzerland vs. Estonia

13:45 Poland vs. Germany

15:15 Italy vs. England

16:30 Belarus vs. Lithuania

17:45 Portugal vs. Azerbaijan

19:00 Spain vs. Belgium

The top 16 teams will advance to the Round of 16 – the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams.

Winners of the Round of 16 will then form two new groups of four, with the top two teams from each group securing a spot in the World Cup. The final day of the qualifiers will feature placement matches to determine rankings.

The Round of 16, second group stage, and placement matches will be held from October 9 to 13.

The next Beach Soccer World Cup will take place in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, on the island of Mahé, from May 1 to 11, 2025.