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Hosts miss out to La Roja while a surprise defeat of Italy sees Japan go top of Group A
The action is underway in Dubai and day one of the Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup 2019 had its fair share of drama to talk about.
Japan beat Italy with a two-goal cushion in the day’s first game, while the Iranians on a title-defending mission put seven past Mexico in the last.
Hosts UAE fell the wrong side of a tight match against Spain which ended in penalties, while after an initial scare, Russia saw off Egypt in their ninth consecutive appearance in the tournament.
Japan 6-4 Italy (Group A)
The first test for the Asian champions came against the Azzurri in the Intercontinental Cup’s opening fixture. The top scorer in virtually every competition he has played in this year, Gabriele Gori took the opening goal with a freekick from way inside his own half.
Zurlo swung in a fine shot to double the advantage with 30 seconds of the period left but Okuyama pulled one back immediately, polishing off a brilliant team goal from Japan.
Oba scrambled a second over the lie, drawing the Samurai level just past the game’s midway point and the final 12 minutes began at 2-2, but the Japanese surged into an incredible offensive. As Oba scored again, muscling off two Italian defenders, to take the lead.
Not long after Akaguma, converted number four, before Okuyama grabbed his second of the game. Gori put a way a freekick of his own, but time was running out and the score stood at 5-3. With a minute of play left, Ramaciotti turned in Italy’s fourth to reduce the gap to just one, but Ozu blasted home a rocket to stem the Italian momentum.
A fantastic result for Ruy Ramos’ side sees them take an early victory in Dubai, and upset an Italian squad who were amongst many people’s favourites for the title.
Goals: 0-1: Gori, min. 3 (1); 0-2: Zurlo, min. 0 (1); 1-2: Okuyama, min. 11 (2); 2-2: Oba, min. 4 (2); 3-2: Oba, min. 11 (3); 4-2: Akaguma, min. 6 (3); 5-2: Okuyama, min. 3 (3); 5-3: Gori, min. 3 (3); 5-4: Ramaciotti, min. 1 (3); 6-4: Ozu, min. 1 (3);
Iran 7-4 Mexico (Group B)
The defending champions kicked off their seventh consecutive appearance at the Intercontinental Cup against Mexico, with title retention in their sights.
It was the 2018 champions who scored first when captain Ahmadzadeh hit a rebounding save past the outstretched Villaseñor. Mexico hit back through Maldonado and soon after Vizcarra put them ahead with a confident finish.
Mokhtari leveled up before the break and then turned the match around to give Iran the lead not long after the restart. The looming figure of Akbari powered in number four to give the Persians a two-goal cushion going into the third and final period.
A sublime bicycle kick from Vizacarra, his second of the tie, reduced the score to 4-3, but a reaction came just a minute later with Akbari’s second, which saw the big Iranian defender drive a long-range effort which bounced to wrong-foot Villaseñor.
Masoumi and Ahmadzadeh took hope of a late comeback away from the Mexicans with late goals but there was just time for El Tri keeper Villaseñor to have the final say in the tie, taking the score to 7-4 with a freekick from his penalty box, despite the points going to the reigning champions.
Goals: 1-0: Ahmadzadeh, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Maldonado, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Vizcarra, min. 4 (1); 2-2: Mokhtari, min. 4 (1); 3-2: Mokhtari, min. 9 (2); 4-2: Akbari, min. 7 (2); 4-3: Vizacarra, min. 7 (3); 5-3: Akbari, min. 6 (3); 6-3: M. Masoumi, min. 1 (3); 7-3: Ahmadzadeh, min. 0 (3); 7-4: Villaseñor, min. 0 (3);
Spain 2(2)-(1)2 UAE (Group A)
La Roja played at the Intercontinental Cup for the first time in 2018 and on their second appearance they were welcomed to the sand by hosts UAE.
The first period saw a combination of brilliant goalkeeping and wayward shots keep the scoreboard unchanged, but the breakthrough eventually came when Chiky blasted in the opener just before the first whistle.
Alonso’s side had a slim advantage going into the second stage, but it only lasted six minutes as Abbas netted a fine strike to level up, and as the locals pressed, they looked the more likely to find the net next.
Sure enough, they did just that and it was deep into the final period that Ahmed Beshr deflected a Llorenç back-pass past Pablo between the Spanish posts. But Javi Torres got the last touch on the Emirati line to bring the sides back to 2-2.
With little between the sides after three periods, it went to extra time and when the added three minutes were up, it was penalties. The Spanish keeper proved the hero, saving two spotkicks to earn a point for Spain.
Goals: 1-0: Chiky, min. 0 (1); 1-1: Abbas, min. 6 (2); 1-2: Ahmed B., min. 6 (3); 2-2: Javi Torres, min. 3 (3);
PSO: 0-0: Chiky, missed; 0-0: Hesham, saved; 1-0: Eduard, scored; 1-1: Abbas, scored; 2-1: Llorenç, scored; 2-1: Waleed B., saved;
Egypt 3-5 Russia (Group B)
The three-time winners of the Intercontinental Cup in Dubai took on Egypt in the first match in Group B and judging by their past success, the Russians were another of the favourite going into the 2019 edition.
It was, however, the Egyptians who struck first when Shika glided in from the flank to smash a volley past Chuzhkov but a very similar goal saw the giant figure of Raskin level up for Russia.
Mohamed powered in a brilliant overhead to make it 2-1 but like clockwork the action was copied by the Russian number three, Novikov. With literally one second of the opening period left, Raskin pounced on a defensive error to snatch the lead for the Russians.
The former world champions seemed to have warmed up by the beginning of the second period, as Pavlenko rifled in a set piece and two minutes later Viktor Kryshanov hit number four for Ilya Leonov’s side.
Mohamad’s second, a beautiful strike from distance, brought the score back to 3-5 but this was all the Pharaohs could manage as Russia take the first game in their ninth appearance in Dubai.
Goals: 1-0: Shika, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Raskin, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Mohamed, min. 4 (1); 2-2: Novikov, min. 3 (1); 2-3: Raskin, min. 0 (1); 2-4: Pavlenko, min. 10 (2); 2-5: Kryshanov V., min. 8 (2); 3-5: Mohamad, min. 6 (3);
For more information, including fixtures, results and standings, go to the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
