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The Iberian sides saw off their Asian and African challengers as the Mundialito gets underway
A decisive seven-goal victory saw Portugal see off their Senegalese rivals, while La Roja had a tighter game against Japan but took all three points.
The European sides asserted their dominance over the visiting African and Asian champions, as Portugal look intent on retaining their crown on home soil, and a young Spanish side is aiming for a higher finish that last year’s second.
Losses on day one for Senegal and Japan make lifting the title a much more complicated task; but who knows what the next two days of Mundialito action will hold?
Senegal 1-7 Portugal
The first test for Senegal at the Mundialito was a tough one, as they took on their hosts and defending champions, Portugal.
A Belchior strike had the packed stadium in Nazaré on their feet within three minutes but Senegal were proving hard to break down.
The African champions threatened Andrade’s goal on numerous occasions in the opening period but the world’s best keeper kept them out and before long it was 0-2 to Portugal, as Madjer belted in a sublime free kick.
Diassy and Jordan netted before the first whistle and Narciso’s men had a two-goal lead going into the second period. Von polished off a beautiful piece of team play to put away an overhead and then, in the final period, a cool chested finish at the far post saw Coimbra get on the scoresheet too.
Jordan turned in a low shot for six and with just seconds on the clock Bruno Torres flew in to power home a header from a Belchior corner, wrapping up the points once and for all.
Off to a flying start, the European Gold Medallists are eyeing up title-retention this year.
Goals: 0-1: Belchior, min. 9 (1); 0-2: Madjer, min. 4 (1); 1-2: Diassy, min. 2 (1); 1-3: Jordan, min. 2 (1); 1-4: Von, min. 6 (2); 1-5: Coimbra, min. 8 (3); 1-6: Jordan, min. 5 (3); 1-7: Torres, min. 0 (3);
Spain 4-2 Japan
Both Spain and Japan return to the Mundialito this year having been downed by their hosts Portugal in 2018, who lifted the trophy.
A youthful Spanish side took on the champions of Asia as both teams made their second consecutive appearance at the Mundialito, but the match immediately looked unlikely to be a repeat of the previous year, where Spain downed Ruy Ramos’ men by six goals to one.
This game had little in the way of clinical finishing in the opening period, and the score was untouched as the sides went into the first break.
Ozu pounded a low freekick under the outstretched Dona at the game’s midway point to finally open the scoring. However, just moments later, the big number ten fouled Jose Manuel Arias in the Japanese box.
The young Spaniard converted the penalty confidently to draw La Roja back on level terms. Cintas the hit a swivelling volley to grab the lead with moments of the period left. As the final third of the match began, Javi Torres made it three, but Tabata wasn’t far behind with a fine hit.
Adri Frutos then powered a sweet strike into the top corner to retake a two-goal lead and Spain hung on to this advantage, seeing the game out to take all three points and go level with Portugal at the top of the group.
Goals: 0-1: Ozu, min. 6 (2); 1-1: Arias, min. 6 (2); 2-1: Cintas, min. 0 (2); 3-1: Javi Torres, min. 11 (3); 3-2: Tabata, min. 10 (3); 4-2: Adri Frutos, min. 9 (3);
Stay up to date of the fixtures, results and standings of the BSWW Mundialito Nazaré 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.
