Photo by beachsoccer.by
MINSK, 30 April (BelTA) - The Belarusian national beach soccer team lost to Azerbaijan, 3-4, in the second friendly on 30 April, BelTA has learned.
The visitors conceded two goals in quick succession early in the second friendly match played in the Azerbaijani capital. After the break, Anatoliy Ryabko pulled one back for Belarus. The hosts then scored their third, but just before the second interval, Aleh Hapon again reduced the deficit to a single goal. In the final third of the match, Mikita Chaikouski restored parity, but Sahib Mammadov scored in extra time to secure the win for the home side.
In the first friendly match in Baku the day before, Belarusian players under Spanish coach Nicolas Alvarado claimed a 3-1 victory. Ihar Bryshtel scored twice for the visitors, with Mikita Chaikouski adding one more. Belarus currently ranks fourth in the world, while Azerbaijan sits in 38th place.
In May, the Belarusian national team will kick off the new Euro Beach Soccer League season. In Group A of the top division in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain, Belarus will face Türkiye (20 May), the Czech Republic (21 May), and Portugal (22 May). Group B features Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.
Following the qualifying tournament, which concludes in early August, eight participants will advance to the Superfinal, to be held in Viareggio, Italy, on 8-13 September. Last year, Belarus claimed bronze in the Euro League for the third consecutive year, while in 2021 they were the silver medalists in the major continental tournament.
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