Brazil on the verge as Russia and Iran prepare for decider

The holders are all but through while Thursday will see Group B heavyweights Russia and Iran meet.

Brazil are on the verge of the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup semi-finals while Russia and Iran will tussle it out for top spot in Group B on Thursday.

European champions Russia made it two wins from two in Marasi Business Bay on Wednesday when they edged Paraguay 2-1 in Group B.

In a slow-burner of a contest, Mikhail Likhachev’s men eventually prevailed with the help of a late Artur Paporotnyi header, as they stayed on course for a fourth Dubai title.

Iran then ran out 4-1 winners against Mexico in the final game of the day to join the Russians on maximum points in the group.

After two tight periods, Iran eventually pulled clear in the last 12 minutes as Amirhosein Akbari, Moslem Mesigar and Ali Mirshekari kept Marco Octavio’s men on course for their first Dubai title since 2013.

Brazil are all but into the next stage as group winners, having continued their impressive recent record over closest challengers Portugal with a 4-1 win.

The world’s first and second ranked nations went head to head in Group A and, like at the BSWW Mundialito and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup earlier this year, it was the Verdeamarela who came out on top.

Two goals from Rodrigo helped seal the points and moved Brazil one step closer to a successful title defence.

Egypt earlier condemned Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup hosts UAE to a second defeat of the tournament on Wednesday as a late strike from Moustafa Shaaban earned the visitors a 4-3 win.

In a contest that swung back and forth, Egypt edged the latter stages and claimed the victory thanks to a stunning late strike from Shika, as the North Africans kept alive their slim hopes of progressing to the semi-finals.