The Solomon Islands Bilikiki have lost their second match at the ANOC World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar, going down 8-5 once again this time to Spain.
A trio of braces from Chiky, Edu and reigning Player of the Year, Llorenç helped Spain to a second win of the group stage.
Spain looked the more comfortable team from the first whistle, and the aforementioned Llorenç and Javi Torres converted that superiority with a goal each at the end of the first period. Edu made it three just after the restart, heading in after Bird in the Solomon Island goal failed to tame a Spanish set piece.
At that juncture, it seemed as though the Spanish would run away with it. Thrashing the Solomon Islands here would have been a welcome statement for La Furia Roja who, despite winning the silver medal at this year’s European Games, have failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
The Pacific Islanders had other ideas and responded immediately through Fa’ari and a Mafane penalty, only for Llorenç to convert a scissor kick after some intricate Iberian interplay. Moments earlier, he had struck the post though he was not to add any further to his tally in this match.
Edu restored the three-goal advantage, but Laua lashed in a left footed free kick to erode at Edu’s newly erected edifice, though the Solomon Islanders were to get no nearer than that despite scoring a fourth through Farobo. Chiky crashed the crossbar prior to rounding off the night with the last two strikes of the game and Adri Frutos acrobatically claimed the other.
Another comprehensive victory for Spain with who face Italy in their final group game tomorrow, the team who pipped them to the 2018 European Beach Soccer League title. They will be keen to make amends.
Goals: 1-0: Llorenç, min. 3 (1); 2-0: Javi Torres, min. 1 (1); 3-0: Edu, min. 10 (2); 3-1: Fa’ari, min. 9 (2); 3-2: Mafane, min. 9 (2); 4-2: Llorenç, min. 7 (2); 5-2: Edu, min. 5 (2); 5-3: Laua, min. 1 (2); 6-3: Adri Frutos, min. 10 (3); 6-4: Farobo, min. 8 (3); 7-4: Chiky, min. 5 (3); 8-4: Chiky, min. 3 (3)
Stay up-to-date on the ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.