On the eighth day of the European Universities Futsal Championship (EUC) 2019, the two finalists of the women's competition were cleared. Highlight for the University of Murcia and the University of Munster, who will compete in the first place in tomorrow's grand final, at 16.30, at the Sports Complex of the University of Minho. Despite their semi-final defeat, the National Pedagogical Dragomanov University and the University of Zagreb have not given up on the podium race and are still struggling to reach the bronze medal.
The first semi final joined University of Murcia and National Pedagogical University of Dragomanov, in a warm match from start to finish. The Spanish had already shown that they were in the city of archbishops to make history and they entered the field with only the victory in the head. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian formation also wanted to conquer a place and did not facilitate the life to the Spanish set. The University of Murcia was the first to open the count. The goal sparked confidence in the Spanish, who extended the gap shortly after the interval, taking advantage of the expulsion of a Ukrainian player. The two teams went to the locker room with the score to record the result of 2-0 in favor of the equipment of Spain. In the return of the locker room, the group of Ukraine tried to nullify the advantage adversary, that was maintained until the last minute. The Spaniards triumphed 2-0 and stamped their passport for tomorrow's grand final.
In the second semi-final of the day, the University of Munster faced the University of Zagreb. The croatians managed to take the best in the first half and went out to the locker room winning by 0-1. But the germans came back determined to reverse the result to reach the final. In a short time, they were already winning by 3-1. Although the croats had reduced, it was not enough to beat the german team, who still extended the advantage. With the 6-2 win, the University of Munster made it to the final.
In the fight for the fifth female position, the University of Rouen faced the Ural Federal University. The french were not let down by the first two goals of the russians and tied the match before the break. However, one second before the end of the first twenty minutes, the russians made it 2-3. The second half was also balanced, but once again, the russian team came out in front of the scoreboard, winning the match by 3-5.
The University of Minho fought against the Norwegian University of Science and Technology for the fifth place at the Altice Forum Braga. The portuguese opened the marker early, which no longer changed until they went to the locker room. With both teams determined to end their participation in the EUC Futsal in the best way, the University of Minho managed to score the second, but, without discouraged, the norwegians drew the game in less than a minute. The final decision was only made in the penalties, in which the Norwegian University of Science and Technology got the better of it, winning by 9-8.
The University of Évora found the University of Evry Val d'Essonne. The two teams were already well-known, after facing each other in the group stage, in a game where the Portuguese was able to get the better of them. Still without knowing the flavor of the victory, the French went to the last game looking for the first triumph in the race. The French tried to avenge the defeat of the first encounter with the Portuguese. However, the Portuguese side managed to counteract the French will and went to the interval to win 2-0. In the second half of the match, the formation of France extended the game and found several spaces in the Portuguese defense, which stopped all French attempts. The victory ended by smiling at the Portuguese, who confirmed the victory by 3-0. The snub sent the University of Evry Val d'Essonne to the last place. Tomorrow, there is a classic between two Portuguese teams: the University of Évora and the University of Porto, which will compete in ninth and tenth place.
The first match was between the University of Coimbra and the University of Kiel. The two teams had already met in the group stage, where the victory belonged to the portuguese. Although they were playing the penultimate and last place, both universities gave a good replica of futsal, going the portuguese to the locker room winning by 3-2. In the second half of the match, the german team tried to defeat the Coimbra side. The portuguese formation did not fall on the ditty of the germans, ending the match with a victory by 8-3. With this result, the conimbricans return to triumph over the University of Kiel and conquered the 16th place in Braga.
In the first game of the day at the Lamaçães Sports Hall, the Norwegian School of Economics faced the University of Munster in a fight for 12th and 14th places. The first half was calm, having the germans succeeded in overtaking the norwegians and made the first of the match. Halftime score was 0-1. However, in the return of the locker room, the University of Munster set foot on the accelerator and, although the Norwegian School of Economics managed to make the taste to the foot, the result was favorable for the german team that won by 1-6.
After failing to advance to the quarterfinals, the University of Osijek faced the University of Camerino in the fight for ninth place in the competition. The italians took command of the match in the opening minutes. Still, the croats did not give the arm twisting and reduced before the first time. The italian set went to the baths winning by 3-1. In the complementary stage, the croatian formation woke up and returned from the rest with a warm foot. The University of Osijek changed the course of the game and got in front of the scoreboard. Italy's formation reached the draw in the last five minutes of the match, leading to a penalty shoot-out (4-4). In the penalties, the University of Camerino was more effective, which assured them the triumph in the encounter.
The dispute for the fifth place between Ivanho Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Saint Petersburg ITMO University was calm. The georgians took the lead near the middle of the match and went to the locker room winning by 1-0. The second part brought more of the same. The teams were struggling to find a route that would take them to the opposing goal. However, the georgians were once again able to excel and make the taste to the foot. The final score was 2-0.
In a fight for the seventh place, the University of Warsaw faced the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. The portugueses advanced in the marker, but were not able to maintain the advantage until the half-time. On the way to the locker room, the result was 1-1. When they returned to the field, the portuguese side were the first ones to score, but once again the poles managed to tie the game. The game ended up being decided with two portuguese goals, near the end of the match.
Tomorrow will be the women's and men's final of the EUC Futsal 2019. From 12.30 on, the Sports Complex of the University of Minho prepares to receive the latest decisions of the competition. After the finals, the closing ceremony takes place, where the approximately 500 participants will bid farewell to the city of Braga.