Clinical UAE sink Spain
dubai — A transformed UAE side displayed some clinical footwork and excellent goal-scoring skills to lead Spain 5-1 by the second period only for the first-timers to fight back with three goals in the third quarter and narrow the margin to 5-4.
With seconds to go for the final whistle, Spain, finalists at the European Championships, gave the hosts some anxious moments before succumbing to their second defeat in the Dubai Sports Council organised Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup Dubai at the Kite Beach Jumeirah.
Spain were outplayed by Brazil (5-2) in their opening encounter on Tuesday. And, on Wednesday, they were in for another humiliation. This, despite getting a superb start from Llorenc Gomez Leon with a goal in the first minute.
But the UAE, after their defeat to Egypt (3-1) on Tuesday, seemed to have got their act together with a brace of goals from Ahmed Beshr and Hesham Muntaser.
Ali Mohammad gave the hosts a solid 5-1 cushion by the end of the second quarter.
Then Antonio Jose Mayor kept Spain’s hopes alive with an early goal in the third period. But the match was very much in the UAE’s grasp until Beshr missed a penalty which opened the door for Spain and they came back with two quick goals through Llorenc and Javier Torres Molina but it was a case of too little too late.
In an earlier match, Igor Matheus Melo Rangel netted three goals and Rodrigo Soares da Costa a brace while Filipe Duarte da Silva, Rafael Amorim Silva, Bruno da Silva Xavier, Mauricio Pereira and Rafael Antonio de Jesus scored a goal each as defending champions Brazil thrashed Egypt 10-5 to make the semifinals.
Bruno gave Brazil the lead within three minutes from the start. Three minutes later Igor doubled the lead, while Mauricio and de Jesus added to the tally to rattle Egypt who managed to pull one back through Ahmed Elshahat Mohamed.
Egypt’s joy was short-lived after Igor found the net immediately and Rodrigo scored a brilliant one for Brazil to make it a tennis-like score after the first period.
Egypt looked a different side in the second period. Moustafa Samir, Mohamed Abdelnaby Hassan and Haitham reduced the margin for them before Igor scored again, this time from the penalty spot to make it 7-4.
Brazil got their eighth goal through Da Silva. Hassane Mohamed Hussein headed in to reduce the deficit but Soares Da Costa’s bicycle kick and Rafael Amorim Silva’s tap in sealed Egypt’s fate.
Entrance to the venue is free for spectators. Matches begin from 4.15pm onwards at the Kite Beach in Jumeirah.