Previous winners Oman take third in second edition
– Brazil claim second edition of the NEOM Cup
– Oman defeat UAE to take bronze medals
– Filipe Silva named as MVP
Brazil have clinched the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup! After disappointment in the finals of the Copa America and the Intercontinental Cup, the Seleção finally got their hands on silverware.
Filipe Silva was named as the MVP, while Paraguay claimed the Top Scorer, Benitez joint with England’s Mitch Day, and Best Goalkeeper, Rolón.
Brazil outclass Paraguay in final
South America’s top nations were well acquainted with each other, as Paraguay had beaten Marco Octavio’s men to take the continental tile earlier in the year and the sides met last week in Dubai in the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Cup.
Brazil had just edged that tie 6-5, and the final of the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup was always going to be another close affair, and it was the Albirroja who drew first blood through Medina, who buried a bicycle kick.
But captain Catarino nodded in his first then struck his second from distance within minutes of each other to see Brazil lead at the break. Filipe Silva then rifled in number three in the second period.
Martinez offered a glimmer of hope with a sweet strike, but trickery from Benjamin Jr saw the number eight hit two and a rocket from keeper Bobô built a 5-2 lead.
In the final period, Paraguay threw everything they had at the men in yellow, cutting the score back to 6-4 but Marco Octavio’s side hung on to the two-goal cushion to clinch an historic NEOM Beach Soccer Cup.
Previous winners Oman claim third
The neighbouring nations of UAE and Oman went head to head for the third place in the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup 2022. Oman, the defending champions, burst onto the sand and two stunning strikes from Abdullah, which sent Oman into the lead after 15 seconds.
Ahmed pulled one back minutes later which seemed to balance the match out, and Rashed powered in an equaliser in the second period. Kamal put the Emirati in front for the first time in the match but Yahya was on hand to convert to make it 3-3.
The winner, or rather winners, came in the added three minutes, where Sami put away the fourth, and then an amazing replay of the first 15 seconds played out as Abduallah put away another quickfire brace to take his tally to four, and the final score to 6-3.
Japan beat England to fifth
In the battle for fifth, Japan were off the mark quicker against an England team ranked 49 places below them in the world ranking, as Oba and keeper Shinya made it 2-0 before the first whistle.
Day pulled one back, netting his sixth of the tournament, but Ozu and Kibune broke through the defence effectively to push it to 4-1. Uesato hit number five but with nine minutes still on the clock, Mitch Day bundled in his second of the match.
But Ozu’s brace-completing strike straight from kick off, and Matsuo’s first goal, put the game beyond England as Japan finish in fifth. Clarke got on the scoresheet with seconds left of the match, as England take sixth place.
Bahrain win first match in NEOM to finish seventh
In their final chance to taste victory at their home event, Sulaiman snatched the lead for Saudi Arabia in the first period, as Bahrain were looking for their first victory on the final day.
Mohamed got Bahrain on level terms once more with a strike before the first whistle, and in the second, it was he who scored what would turn out to be the winner in the battle for seventh. After a goalless final period, Bahrain clinched the playoff match by a single goal.
RESULTS (12/11)
Paraguay 4-6 Brazil (final)
UAE 3-6 Oman *AET
England 3-7 Japan
Saudi Arabia 1-2 Bahrain
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
MVP: Filipe Silva (BRA)
Top Scorer: Benitez (PAR), Day (ENG)
Best Goalkeeper: Rolón (PAR)
FINAL STANDINGS
Champions – Brazil
2nd – Paraguay
3rd – Oman
4th – UAE
5th – Japan
6th – England
7th – Bahrain
8th – Saudi Arabia
Watch the games live on Recast.
For full details on the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup Dubai 2022, including fixtures, results and standings, head to beachsoccer.com.
