Spartak and Lokomotiv Moscow racked up 22 goals between them to disappoint debutants
Wins for Braga, Tokyo Verdy and the two hosts clubs sees the first points won and lost at the Mundialito de Clubes in Moscow.
The local sides showed little in the way of courtesy to their new visitors to the Russian capital, as Lokomotiv put 14 – including five from Llorenç! – past Turkish side, Alanya, and Spartak swept aside Grasshopper Zurich from Switzerland.
Elsewhere on the opening day, Braga came out on top against their Brazilian rivals, Flamengo, and the other first-timers Tokyo Verdy (JPN) edged Levante in a thrilling tie.
It was this match that kicked off the 2020 Mundialito de Clubes…
Levante (ESP) 2-3 Tokyo Verde (JPN)
A tantalisingly tight fixture cut the ribbon on the 2020 Mundialito de Clubes Moscow, as Ozu starred to give the first-time Tokyo team an opening win.
It took just minutes for the Spanish giant Javi Torres to power in the opener in the first game of the 2020 Mundialito de Clubes, but a lay-off straight from the restart set up one of the world’s top five players, Ozu, who levelled the scores once more.
The towering Tokyo captain, as well as their star Brazilian recruit, former world best player Mauricinho, were proving predictably hard to contain for the Levante defenders, and before the end of the period the two combined well from a corner to snatch the lead.
In the final moments of the second period, an Ozu overhead rebounded and fell to another Brazilian in the Tokyo ranks, Catarino, who volleyed a deflected shot past Eliot, only for Dmais to pull Levante back just before the second whistle sounded with the scores at 2-3.
Throughout the final period, the Spaniards pushed to find the equaliser but the resilient Tokyo Verdy defence held firm, shutting down attack after attack until the final whistle went, and the Japanese club opened their Mundialito debut appearance with vital three points.
Goals: 1-0: Javi Torres, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Ozu, min. 9 (1); 1-2: Ozu, min. 1 (1); 1-3: Catarino, min. 0 (2); 2-3: Dmais, min. 0 (2);
SC Braga (POR) 6-4 CR Flamengo (BRA)
The Euro Winners champions took on the World Winners champions in the day’s second match, as SC Braga looked to kick off their title-defending campaign with a win over Flamengo.
It was the new recruit Rodrigo who smashed Flamengo ahead within the opening seconds of the tie, and Braga found themselves trailing early on. As the period neared its midway point, two sublime strikes from two more Brazilians, saw Bruno Xavier and Filipe push Braga into the lead.
In the second period, Flamengo managed to turn the tables on the Portuguese powerhouses, with incredible long-range efforts from Eudim and then Igor, taking the score to 2-3. But the wounded Braga came back with a vengeance and Andrade was frantically keeping out the attacks until the world’s best player, Jordan, finally broke through.
Filipe managed to squeeze in a fourth for Braga, taking back the lead before the end of the second period. Jordan made it five with his second of the match after the restart and soon after, Be Martins smashed a cross off his twin, Leo, to push the advantage to three goals.
A second goal for Igor in the final third meant that the matched finished 6-4 in favour of the defending champions, but Flamengo aren’t out of the running yet…
Goals: 0-1: Rodrigo, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Filipe, min. 5 (1); 2-2: Eudim, min. 7 (2); 2-3: Igor, min. 6 (2); 3-3: Jordan, min. 3 (2); 4-3: Filipe, min. 0 (2); 5-3: Jordan, min. 11 (3); 6-3: Leo Martins, min. 10 (3); 6-4: Igor, min. 4 (3);
Grasshopper CZ (SUI) 1-8 Spartak Moscow (RUS)
Another side playing their first ever Mundialito de Clubes match was Grasshopper Club Zurich, whose opening test came against the hosts Spartak Moscow.
The Russians took the lead when a twisting and turning Jordan found the bottom corner from distance, and before the end of the first period, Novikov powered a cross right onto the chest of an unsuspecting Zemskov, and into the net to make it two.
The number 20 knew all about his second goal though, as he blasted a freekick past Sydorenko to push the Russian advantage to three. Glen Hodel snuck one in at the near post to make it 3-1, but Jordan hit a fine freekick to restore the cushion.
From then on, it was one-way traffic as the Muscovites surged ahead of their visitors, with Zemskov netting no less than four goals, while Jordan completed a hat-trick and Iranian recruit Ahmadzadeh also got his name on the scoresheet.
Grasshoppers were blown away on their opening game in Moscow, but will regroup for tomorrow’s tie against the defending champions, while Spartak, who are now level with Braga on points, will face Flamengo.
Goals: 0-1: Jordan, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Zemskov, min. 3 (1); 0-3: Zemskov, min. 11 (2); 1-3: Hodel, min. 9 (2); 1-4: Jordan, min. 3 (2); 1-5: Ahmadzadeh, min. 1 (2); 1-6: Zemskov, min. 11 (3); 1-7: Jordan, min. 8 (3); 1-8: Zemskov, min. 4 (3);
Alanya Belediyespor (TUR) 4-14 BSC Lokomotiv (RUS)
Alanya’s first match in the Mundialito was against Lokomotiv, and it went the same way as Grasshoppers’ had against the other Moscow club in the previous match, as the newcomers were swept aside by the two-time champions.
The 2018 world’s best player, Llorenç, got the Railwaymen off the mark, before new Iranian recruit Akbari, who had been the top scorer at the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup, doubled the lead. Keeper Behzadpour made it three with one of the goals of the tournament, before Baris pulled one back for the Turkish visitors.
It wasn’t long, however, until the top scorer from the previous Mundialito de Clubes, Lucao, netted a fine hit and there was just time for Federov to make it 5-1 before the first whistle sounded. Alanya were floundering, but the hosts were just getting started…
Lucao and Llorenç each struck again early in the second period, and Nikonorov also slid in at the far post to turn in the eighth for the local side. Baris scored his second but a hat-trick completing shot deflected for Llorenç to push the tally to nine entering the final period of the day.
In the final third, there was no catching the streaming Lokomotiv, as Llorenç scored five and Lucao three as the Moscow side took the final tally to 14, to go level on points with Tokyo Verdy.
Goals: 0-1: Llorenç, min. 8 (1); 0-2: Akbari, min. 5 (1); 0-3: Behzadpour, min. 5 (1); 1-3: Baris, min. 4 (1); 1-4: Lucao, min. 3 (1); 1-5: Fedorov, min. 0 (1); 1-6: Lucao, min. 9 (2); 1-7: Llorenç, min. 6 (2); 1-8: Nikonorov, min. 5 (2); 2-8: Baris, min. 3 (2); 2-9: Llorenç, min. 0 (2); 3-9: Adil, min. 11 (3); 3-10: Mamadiev, min. 11 (3); 3-11: Akbari, min. 10 (3); 4-11: Dolgopolov (OG), min. 8 (3); 4-12: Llorenç, min. 8 (3); 4-13: Llorenç, min. 0 (3); 4-14: Lucao, min. 0 (3);
