Just one final hurdle remains. Italy’s women’s beach soccer team have written another chapter in their history, returning to the European final after a four-year wait thanks to a 4-1 win over Ukraine. Tomorrow at 16:45, it will once again be Italy against Spain, a repeat of the 2022 final – the Azzurre’s first and, so far, only appearance in the Women’s Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal showpiece.

Against Ukraine, Italy grew stronger as the game went on, combining commitment and sacrifice with quality in their play and finishing. Four different players found the net: goalkeeper Martina Galloni opened the scoring, followed by Roberta Illiano and Erika Veglio, before Fabiana Vecchione put the seal on the win with a superb fourth.

THE MATCH. Privitera returned to Italy’s starting five, with Vecchione and Massa just behind her and Adami providing protection in front of Galloni. The Azzurre made a bright start, creating chances through Privitera and Vecchione before opening the scoring in the 4’. Galloni’s seemingly harmless effort caught Terekh out, the goalkeeper misjudging the ball as Italy took the lead. Ukraine responded two minutes later through Klipachenko, who unleashed a fierce strike from distance to make it 1-1. They continued to threaten from range and, in the 8’, Kostiuk beat Galloni with a powerful effort that crashed against the post. Italy survived the scare but, despite taking the early lead, looked more tentative than usual. The opening 12’ ended level, but the Azzurre stepped up the tempo in the second period and began to create more chances. In the 3’, Massa fired narrowly wide from ten metres, before Illiano brought the whole stadium to its feet in the 6’ with a right-footed strike that beat Terekh and restored Italy’s lead. Two minutes later, the Azzurre came agonisingly close to a remarkable third. Prokopenko’s shot ricochets off Ferrazza, looping some 20 metres into the air and over Terekh before coming back off the crossbar. Vecchione then had another huge opportunity in the 10’, but this time the Ukraine goalkeeper produced an excellent save. Terekh could do nothing, however, with 45” remaining before the second interval, Veglio powered home to make it 3-1. Italy headed into the break deservedly two goals ahead after an outstanding second period. The Azzurre came close again at the start of the final period, Massa meeting Privitera’s pass with a first-time effort that Terekh somehow turned behind for a corner. The fourth goal felt inevitable and arrived in the 2’. Vecchione left her marker behind, cutting inside before driving an unstoppable right-footed shot into the net. With Italy now firmly in control, more chances followed as Illiano and Adami both came close to adding a fifth. Ukraine continued to rely mainly on efforts from distance, including one from Terekh in the 4’ that struck the angle of post and bar. There are no further goals, though, and at the final whistle Italy could celebrate their place in the final.

ITALY 4-1 UKRAINE (1st period 1-1; 2nd period 2-0)

Italy: Galloni, Adami, Vecchione, Massa, Privitera. Subs: Ferrazza, Illiano, Costantini, Veglio, Farnesi, Baldini, Manca. Coach: Feudi

Ukraine: Terekh, Klipachenko, Kostiuk, Sybina, Bavzeniuk. Subs: Prokopenko, Kvach, Koval, Dubytska, Yurasova, Soldatenko. Coach: Klymenko

Goals: 4’ 1st Galloni (I), 6’ Klipachenko (U); 6’ 2nd Illiano (I), 11’ Veglio (I); 2’ 3rd Vecchione (I)

Referees: Unterbeck (Germany), Tashkov (Bulgaria), Minder (Switzerland), Gomolko (Lithuania); Timekeeper: Galan Cayado (Spain)

Notes: Booked: Privitera (I), Klipachenko (U)

WEBSL Superfinal

Group A: ITALY, Spain, Poland

Group B: Portugal, Switzerland, Ukraine

Group-stage fixtures and results

Matchday 1, Wednesday 9 September

Switzerland 2-4 Ukraine (B)

Italy 9-4 Poland (A)

Matchday 2, Thursday 10 September

Portugal 4-3 Ukraine (B)

Italy 2-1 Spain (A)

Matchday 3, Friday 11 September

Switzerland 2-7 Portugal (B)

Spain 4-1 Poland (A)

Standings after Matchday 3

Group A: Italy 6, Spain 3, Poland 0

Group B: Portugal 6, Ukraine 3, Switzerland 0

Semi-finals, Saturday 12 September

Italy 4-1 Ukraine

Portugal 2-5 Spain

Finals, Sunday 13 September

Third place: Portugal v Ukraine, 14:00

Final: Italy v Spain, 16:45