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FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP - BATTLING BILIKIKI FALL SHORT
Monday, 05 November 07, 10:49 AM
HALE HEARTBREAK: Bilikiki goalkeeper Fred Hale is left crestfallen as his team lose to Russia (Image courtesy FIFA.com/Foto-NetRIO DE JANEIRO - Solomon Islands FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup dream is all but over after a 5-2 loss to European giants Russia at the Copacabana Beach Soccer Arena in Rio de Janeiro overnight.
The Bilikiki Boys needed to win the match to strengthen their chances of a quarter-final slot but were immeadiately on the backfoot with barely 16 seconds elapsed Russia were in front thanks to Ilya Leonov.
Matters didn't improve for Solomon Islands and Fred Hale was picking the ball out of the back of the net a minute later when Dmitry Shishin grabbed a second goal for the Russians.
Trailing 2-0 at the end of the 1st period, Solomon Islands goalkeeper Fred Hale became an unlikely hero when he pulled a goal back for the Bilikiki but no sooner had the deficit been reduced, Russia bounced back through Leonov.
Rustam Shakmelyan made it 4-1 for Russia before Richard Anisua (pictured below left)nabbed a second goal for Bilikiki Boys.
Fortunes did not improve for the Oceania champions and Leonov grabbed his fourth goal and Russia's fifth to complete a solid victory that sets up a fascinating final round of matches.
Russia face a must-win showdown with Brazil and hope Solomon Islands can do them a favour by beating in-form Mexico.
Bilikiki's only hope of causing a monumental upset is if they can defeat Mexico by double figures then wait and see if Brazil achieve a similar feat against Russia.
Based on results so far either scenario appears highly unlikely.
Russian coach Nikolai Pisarev was satisfied with the result.
We did much better this time than we did in our first match, but we were still very nervous. I think we were considered favorites and we are not used to being in that position; we are not experienced enough to handle that. Anyway, we won the 3 points and are now ready to face Brazil with chances to move ahead.” )
Terry Van Dillen meanwhile bemoaned his team's slow start which the amiable Kiwi believed ultimately cost Solomon Islands the match.
“We were not concentrated at the beginning of the match and allowed two goals outright. We had not played since July and came straight from Solomon Islands to play against Brazil. Obviously, it is good to be here and the boys always have something to learn from the experience of taking part in a World Cup.”
Former Nelson Suburbs and now Kossa FC defender Gideon Omokirio echoed Van Dillen's sentiments blaming a lethargic start and then pleaded with his team to raise their game another notch ahead of what will likely be their final match in Rio.
“Our team did not start well, but we worked hard and ended up fighting back. We always believed we could win the match. Next match will be our last, and we will have to go the extra mile," Omokirio said.
Date Kick-off*/** Match
06.11.07 14:00 Solomon Islands vs. Mexico
*Rio de Janeiro local time
**Time Conversion for Oceania
American Samoa UTC -11hrs
Cook Islands UTC -10hrs
Fiji UTC +12hrs
Papua New Guinea UTC+10hrs
New Caledonia UTC +11hrs
New Zealand UTC +13hrs
Samoa UTC -11hrs
Solomon Islands UTC +11hrs
Tahiti UTC -9hrs
Tonga UTC +13hrs
Vanuatu UTC +11hrs
For full coverage of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup - Rio de Janeiro 2007 click links below:
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – RIO DE JANEIRO 2007 – LIVE COVERAGE
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – RIO DE JANEIRO 2007
Group A
Standings - 05.11.07
|
MP |
W |
W+ |
L |
GF. |
GA. |
PTS. |
|
|
Brazil |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
6 |
6 |
|
Russia |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
|
Mexico |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
|
Solomon Islands |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
17 |
0 |
Posted by GGW07 · Comments (14)
Topics: OCEANIA Solomon Islands OFC Beach Soccer 2008
Tags: OCEANIA Solomon Islands OFC Beach Soccer 2008
0
go solo go..lose wont kill you...so dont hesitate... just keep.."if you cant be fast you will be the next"
0
manex, I don’t quite get what you are trying to say…anyway from my observation, I think one of the problems we (Solomon Islanders) have is our attitude or way of life. What I mean is the way we
do
things, we tend to take our time, we even walk slow, (Solomon time) no rush, “evryting babae oraet”. There’s no urgency in what we do. That is our Island style, and its hard for us to change. That
same thing too reflects in our sports. We need to be in 4th gear already when the starting whistle goes, and not first gear. Our slow start cost us those 2 opening goals against Russia. Not only in
Beach soccer but in other sports too, if we can change that, me sure we are capable of breaking more records.
Well done boys, I’m sure we will learn and gain something from this tournament. Fly
Bilikiki, fly!!!
things, we tend to take our time, we even walk slow, (Solomon time) no rush, “evryting babae oraet”. There’s no urgency in what we do. That is our Island style, and its hard for us to change. That
same thing too reflects in our sports. We need to be in 4th gear already when the starting whistle goes, and not first gear. Our slow start cost us those 2 opening goals against Russia. Not only in
Beach soccer but in other sports too, if we can change that, me sure we are capable of breaking more records.
Well done boys, I’m sure we will learn and gain something from this tournament. Fly
Bilikiki, fly!!!
have given them a better footing to produce results. Afterall Bilikiki is representing OFC not just Solomon Islands. How they perform there reflects poorly on OFC as a confederation. I am sure if it
was New Zealand or Tahiti that qualified they would be given every opportunity to prepare well for this World Cup competition. To Bilikiki, may you continue to fly Solomons flag in the region and
World.