Estonia were crowned Euro Beach Soccer League Division B champions in Belgrade as they beat the hosts Serbia 4-3 in the final match of the weekend.
In what was a winner-takes-all clash, Serbia came from behind to lead only to be reeled in once more as Ervin Stuf, Indrek Palm and Ragnar Rump ensured victory for Estonia.
Stuf opened the scoring for the visitors nine minutes in with a precise drive that found the bottom corner but, after the restart, Nikola Valentic did likewise for the hosts to level matters.
Valentic’s strike buoyed the home crowd as did a wonderful save from in-form goalkeeper Marko Milivojevic as he tipped a long-distance effort over the crossbar.
Despite seeing a low free-kick from Nikola Cubrilovic squirm through the legs of Taavi Tamm, Serbia were denied a lead going into the final frame thanks to Palm’s set-piece.
And the Estonian defender was on hand again to nudge his side in front with an instinctive finish at the near post to deflate the mood somewhat in Belgrade.
Cubrilovic saw a penalty saved by Tamm as Serbia missed the chance to draw level, with the home nation ultimately paying the price when Raku’s deflected effort found its way into the net.
Mladen Jovancic did give the home fans something to cheer when he rifled in a strike from distance 21 seconds from time but the title would go to Estonia.
Goals: 0-1: Stuf, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Valentic, min. 7 (2); 2-1: Cubrilovic, min. 1 (2); 2-2: Palm, min. 0 (2); 2-3: Palm, min. 9 (3); 2-4: Raku, min. 2 (3); 3-4: Jovancic, min. 0 (3)