Russia claim bronze with comeback win over Japan

Sunday 01 December 2019, 20:20
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019™
Russia claim bronze with comeback win over Japan

Russia came from behind to defeat Japan 5-4 to finish in third place at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019.
Japan’s captain Ozu, fresh off semi-final heartbreak where he missed his penalty kick, showed tremendous strength in the build-up to their first goal, beating Dmitrii Shishin to a loose ball before setting Takuya Akaguma up to score. Russia responded with a pair of goals from Fedor Zemskov and Andrei Novikov, before Akaguma headed in his second and Ozu scored from a close-range set piece to put Japan in front by the first interval.
Takaaki Oba and Zemskov scored goals at the end of the second period - Zemsvok’s acrobatic overhead kick was the game’s best.
Alexey Makarov pulled off a nice piece of skill, flicking the ball over Oba before hitting the top corner to equalise for Russia early in the final period.
Zemskov completed his hat-trick, finishing from close range after Shingo Terukina spilled a shot, to lead Russia to a podium finish at Paraguay 2019, a repeat of their performance at their last World Cup at Portugal 2015.
Russia 5-4 Japan (Paraguay 2019 play-off for third place)
01/12
Players of Russia celebrate the victory against Japan
02/12
Takuya Akaguma of Japan reacts after losing to Russia
03/12
Fedor Zemskov of Russia celebrates a goal 
04/12
Fedor Zemskov (L) of Russia celebrates a goal 
05/12
Fedor Zemskov of Russia scores his team's third goal 
06/12
Andrei Novikov of Russia celebrates a goal
07/12
Takuya Akaguma of Japan celebrates a goal
08/12
Fedor Zemskov of Russia is challenged by Kosuke Matsuda of Japan 
09/12
Takuya Akaguma of Japan celebrates a goal
10/12
Players of Japan pose for a team photo 
11/12
Players of Russia pose for a team photo 
12/12
Russia line up prior to the third place match 