Dubai: Russia tamed arch-rivals Iran 4-3 in extra-time to top Group B and avoid world champions Brazil in the final preliminary round match of the Seventh Huawei Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup at Marasi Business Bay late on Thursday.

Needing a win to avoid the South Americans, Russia found a match-winner through an own goal from forward Moslem Mesigar early during the three minutes of extra-time to seal a well-deserved win against an opponent who had defeated them in the semi-finals here last year.

In Friday’s semi-finals, Brazil and Iran will feature at 6.45 pm, while Russia and Portugal will play the second one at 8 pm. The winners will contest for the final, while the two losing sides will meet to decide the third-placed team on Saturday.

Russia got to a heady start with defender Aleksey Makarov scoring a fine hat-trick from the first three shots he aimed at goal to put the reigning European champions 3-0 up. However, Iran went into the first period break after goalkeeper Seyed Peyman’s grounder trickling in past Maksim Chuzhkov. Seyed Ali Nazim scored the only goal of the second period as Iran trailed 2-3.

With 5.25 minutes remaining in the final period, captain Mohammad Ahmadzadeh converted from the penalty spot to draw the two teams level and push the game into extra-time. Russia didn’t take long to forge ahead as Mesigar mistakenly got a faint touch into his own goal, in what proved to be the match-winner for the Russians.

Earlier, reigning world champions Brazil put up another dominating display to outplay the UAE 15-4 to hand out a third straight loss to the hosts.

Crowned world champions in The Bahamas in May this year, Brazil had to recover from an early Haitham Al Ka’abi strike as skipper Bruno Xavier and Jose Lucas Da Cruz scored four goals apiece to set the hosts aside. Lucas Tadeu and Rodrigo Soares Da Costa scored a brace each, while Mauricio Pereira Braz and substitute goalkeeper Rafael De Lima Padilha also got their names on the scoresheet.

After Al Ka’abi’s early snap strike, Ahmad Beshir bagged a goal apiece in the first and third periods while older brother Walid Beshir scored from the penalty spot for the home team.

A couple of records were set on the third day of the competition. Gilberto Costa’s Brazil set a new record for goals in a single match with their 15-4 scoreline against the hosts, while the total of 48 goals is the most number of goals scored on a single day at this tournament. The previous best was the 45 goals scored on the opening day of the 2016 edition.

RESULTS

Paraguay x Mexico 5-4

Portugal x Egypt 9-7 (6-6 after regulation period and extra-time)

Brazil x UAE 15-4

Russia x Iran 4-3 (extra-time)

Friday’s Fixtures: (4.15 pm) Egypt x Mexico; (5.30 pm) Paraguay x UAE; (6.45 pm) Brazil x Iran; (8.00 pm) Russia x Portugal.