Germany made the ideal start to their Euro Beach Soccer League Division B campaign with a 4-2 win against five-time champions Spain.
The Germans could only muster a third-place finish at the Sal Beach Soccer Cup in Cape Verde last time out but turned in an impressive display against a side ranked 18 places above them in the world to pick up a solid win on Friday.
While Spain battled back from 3-0 down to 3-2, a late Daniel Pajon own-goal punctured their momentum as Christian van der Ar’s side started with a bang.
Christian Biermann’s strike was the only one of the first period, the German carrying on his impressive form from Cape Verde, before a fine finish from captain Sascha Weirauch doubled the lead following restart.
Antonio Mayor hit the post for Spain but it was Germany who continued to find the net as Thurk made it 3-0 prior to Francisco Cintas getting Spain on the board with a set-piece.
Llorenc Gomez saw his set-piece saved early in the final frame but the forward reacted quickly to slot home the loose ball and cut the deficit to one.
However, a Daniel Pajon own-goal took the wind out of Spanish sails as his misfortune put Germany back in control after a difficult few minutes.
Antonio again rattled the woodwork late on as Spain began to realise it perhaps wasn’t their day – Germany instead holding firm to earn the first points of the Division.
Goals: 0-1: Biermann, min. 3 (1); 0-2: Weirauch, min. 9 (2); 0-3: Thurk, min. 7 (2); 1-3: Antonio, min. 1 (2); 2-3: Llorenc, min. 11 (3); 2-4: Pajon own-goal, min. 6 (3)