Spain overturned their hosts to bag their first points in Moscow
Day 2 was a story of comebacks as the first ever Women’s Intercontinental Cup champions were defined with a matchday still to play at the Luzhniki Park in Moscow.
Brazil came from three behind to beat the United States by five goals to three in an end-to-end thriller to secure the Intercontinental title with a game still to play.
Spain fell behind to Russia but bagged a late winner to seal their first ever points in the competition.
In the race for the Top Scorer award, Brazil’s Dani Barboza and Russia’s Anna Cherniakova are tied three ahead of the final matchday.
Brazil 5-3 USA
USA had taken their hosts Russia into extra time in their first match in the Intercontinental Cup before being eventually beaten, showing that they were a beach soccer force to be taken seriously.
Brazil had edged the world’s top side Spain the day before and topped the table ahead of the match but two stunning long-range efforts from Ali Hall had the United States in front at the end of the first period.
The Canarinho looked shell-shocked by the end of the middle period when Samantha Witteman pounded in a third but, in the final section of the match, Brazil’s attackers woke up…
It was a Lele Villar quick-fire brace that finally stemmed the flow of American goals and from then on Brazil showed no mercy. Colodetti reached a loose ball to strike an equaliser, then Dani Barboza converted her third of the tournament and Adriele the edded number five from another dead ball situation, finding the top corner in impressive style.
Five final-period goals saw the Brazilians mount an incredible comeback, but it was heartbreak for the initially rampant USA, who suffer a second defeat, while the group leaders tighten their grip on the competition.
Goals: 0-1: Hall, min. 9 (1); 0-2: Hall, min. 0 (1); 0-3: Wittiman, min. 0 (2); 1-3: Lele Villar, min. 11 (3); 2-3: Lele Villar, min. 10 (3); 3-3: Colodetti, min. 8 (3); 4-3: Dani, min. 5 (3); 5-3: Adriele, min. 5 (3);
Russia 3-4 Spain
After dropping an essential point against the US yesterday, the hosts were eager to make up for it against old European rivals, Spain.
The team ranked top in the world had been narrowly beaten by Brazil on Friday and were in even more need of the win, and they struck first through Fresneda who smashed in a rebounded save half way through the first period, her first of the tournament.
However, it wasn’t long before Cherniakova burst past two defenders to equalise and Shkvara lobbed the keeper from distance soon after to snatch the lead before the break.
Cherniakova scored another brilliant individual goal in the second period, but Barquero cut the deficit back to just one. In the final period, Spain moved into a superior gear, with Sara volleying in an overhead to level up and then Jessica completed the day’s second incredible comeback with a late strike.
This goal meant that no team could now beat Brazil to the maiden Intercontinental title.
Goals: 0-1: Fresneda, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Cherniakova, min. 3 (1); 2-1: Shkvara, min. 1 (1); 3-1: Cherniakova, min. 6 (2); 3-2: Barquero, min. 1 (2); 3-3: Sara, min. 9 (3); 3-4: Jessica, min. 5 (3);
Attendance at the Women’s Intercontinental Cup matches at the Luzhniki Park is free, and you can register for tickets here.
All matches will also be streamed live on beachsoccer.com.
FIXTURES
Friday 13 August
18:00 – Spain 2-3 Brazil
19:30 – Russia 2-1 USA *AET
Saturday 14 August
18:00 – Brazil 5-3 USA
19:30 – Russia 3-4 Spain
Sunday 15 August
18:00 – Spain v USA
19:30 – Russia v Brazil
