Dubai: Reigning world champions Brazil will meet traditional rivals Portugal in the final of the Seventh Huawei Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup at Marasi Business Bay on Saturday.
Champions here last year with an easy 6-2 win over Asian champions Iran, the South Americans secured a neat 6-4 win against the same opponents after Portugal had fought the way past former three-time Dubai champions Russia 3-2 in the earlier semi-final, on Friday.
Saturday’s finale will be at 8 pm at the brand-new beach soccer stadium erected at Marasi Business Bay. The final will be preceded by the third place play-off between Russia and Iran at 6.45 pm.
Hosts UAE will also feature on the evening as they face African champions Egypt for the fifth place after Paraguay take on Mexico in the opening match at 4.15 pm to decide who will be the last among the eight teams.
The two semi-finals were contrasting with Brazil stamping their dominace while notching their 46th win on the trot with a 6-4 defeat of Asian champions Iran. Crowned champions at the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup held in The Bahamas in May, Brazil opened with three minutes gone as Luis Alberto Datinha poked from a narrow angle. But Iran leveled through Seyed Ali Nazem following a misunderstanding between goalkeeper Jenilson Rodrigues Mao and defender Rodrigo Da Costa with 1.15 minutes left for the opening period. However, Brazil took the lead in the final seconds as Rafael Antonio De Jesus Bokinha tapped in to make it 2-1.
The Brazilians then took control with two quick goals from Filipe Duarte Da Silva and Datinha’s second to stay 4-1 ahead. Iran pulled one back through a penalty from Mostafa Kiani, only to see Brazil regain their three-goal cushion with Bruno Xavier converting from the spot for a 5-2 lead at the end of the second period. Kiani brought things to life in the third period with two goals to put the pressure on the world champions. But Mauricio Pereira Mauricinho chested in a cross with 2.27 minutes left and seal a fine win for the Brazilians and stay a step away from equaling Russia’s record of three titles in Dubai.
Earlier, Portugal had fought their way past European champions Russia 3-2 to book their spot in the final. Portugal have never won the title here and their best performance has been a third place finish behind Brazil and Russia in 2014. Portugal nosed ahead through a Bruno Novo goal only to see goalkeeper Maksim Chuzhkov get the equalizer with just 4.7 seconds remaining in the first period.
The Russians then took the lead off a Artur Paporotnyi free kick to end the second period with a 2-1 cushion. But Portugal came right back with goalkeeper Elinton Andrade’s shot nestling into the top corner of the Russian goal. Jordan Santos then scored from a free kick and then defended for the last 1.52 minutes to earn a deserving win against the recent champions of Europe.
RESULTS
Egypt x Mexico 6-5
UAE x Paraguay 4-1
Portugal x Russia 3-2
Brazil x Iran 6-4
Fixtures for Saturday:
(4.15 pm) For Seventh Place – Paraguay x Mexico
(5.30 pm) For Fifth Place – Egypt x UAE
(6.45 pm) For Third Place – Iran x Russia
(8.00 pm) Final – Brazil x Portugal
