Gulfnews - Brazil and Iran were convincing winners, while Egypt and Russia scraped through on the opening day of the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup Dubai being played at the Kite Beach Jumeirah.
Brazil played a patient game for a convincing 5-2 win over Spain, while Iran wrapped up the opening day with an 8-0 thrashing of the USA. Leading 6-1 at the end of the second period, Russia overcame nervy moments before winning 7-6 over former world champions Tahiti, while Egypt left it late for a 3-1 win over hosts UAE in a Group A encounter.
Asian champions Iran had seven different players scoring as they ran riot with an 8-1 thumping of the USA in the last match of the night. Mohammad Moradi opened the scoring in the very first minute and then added a second midway to be the only one from his team with a brace, while the other goals came from his teammates Amir Hussain Akbari, Mohammad Ahmad Zadeh, Mustafa Kiani, Moslem Mesigar, Mohammad Masoumizadeh and Ali Mirshekari as Iran led 8-0 by the end of the second period.
The Asian champions – ranked No.3 on the Fifa Beach Soccer rankings – relaxed a bit and the USA finally managed to pull one back in the third period with Gabriel Silveira finding the back of the net.
In an earlier match, the crowd was treated to a thrilling encounter with Tahiti fighting their way back from a five-goal deficit to nearly run away winners against fellow world champions Russia. The European champions were leading 6-1 midway through the second period with a brace each from Artur Paporotnyi and Fedor Zemskov.
But Tahiti came right back in the final period with five different players scoring to help them draw level at 6-6 and less than three minutes left for the final whistle. However, goalkeeper Durot Teva’s mistimed push saw the experienced Dmitrii Shkarin pounce and guide the ball home for what proved to the winner.
In the early games from Group A, Spain did well to match the might of Brazil before the multiple world champions eased their way to a 5-2 result against the Europeans. Egypt also got their campaign under way with two late strikes from Haitem Mahsoub and Mohammad Abdel Nabi Hassan for a 3-1 win over the hosts.
Entrance is free for all spectators and matches are being held daily from 4.15 pm at the Kite Beach in Jumeirah.
RESULTS
Brazil x Spain 5-2
Egypt x UAE 3-1
Russia x Tahiti 7-6
Iran x USA 8-1
Wednesday’s fixtures:
(4.15) Egypt x Brazil
(5.30) Spain x UAE
(6.45) Russia x USA
(8.00) Tahiti x Iran.