The hosts upset Team Dragon for a win in their first game back in beach soccer as UAE bend England at the Neom Beach Soccer Cup opener
Saudi Arabia made a brilliant first step in the Neom Beach Soccer Cup they are hosting, bending China to secure three very important points in this new awakening to beach soccer.
A much more experienced China began the game commanding the situation. Despite Saleh opened the score for the Saudi, it was the Chinese team who managed to get to the final of the first leg 2-1 ahead.
That did not let the hosts down, and they kept fighting, acknowledging that they had very significant chances to grasp the win today and give their people the best possible beginning of the competition.
In only two minutes, Ashraf and Muhannad, with the first of his two goals today, turned the score around and got The Green One ahead again. The stroke exchange after that brought on a thrilling spectacle that left things 5-4, Saudi, by the end of the period.
The 6-4, by Muhannad again, was the turning point for the hosts. China kept trying to counteract, and Cunde Wang pulled one back for the Chinese, with one minute still to go, but the Team Dragon’s reaction did not go any further, and Saudi Arabia sealed their first win in their first game back to the beach after many years.
Goals: 1-0 Saleh, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Wang, min. 4 (1); 1-2: Liang, min. 3 (1); 2-2: Ashraf, min. 11 (2); 3-2: Muhannad, min. 10 (2); 3-3: Liang, min. 8 (2); 4-3: Mohsen, min. 4 (2); 4-4: Cai, min. 3 (2); 5-4: Abdullah, min. 3 (2); 6-4: Muhannad, min. 5 (3); 6-5: Wang, min. 1 (3)
UAE bend England in Neom Cup opener
The Neom Beach Soccer Cup kick started with a game involving two regular contenders in the international panorama: UAE and England, with the Asian side grasping the win in the opener with a solid win.
Both teams had not faced each other many times before, so the first half was more about studying the opponent rather than trying to do harm, what left a more tactical than passional game.
Goalkeeper Humaid, from the distance, opened the score for the Emirati right before the referee whistled the first period over.
The UAE doubled their advantage as soon as the second period unfolded, with Abbas Ali making it 2-0. James Temple tried to lead the English reaction before it was too late, and pulled one back for the Three Lions, only to see, though, how UAE stroke back.
Before that second period was over, Ahmed Khalaf and Waleed Beshr made the score 4-1 for the Emirati, virtually sealing the win for their team. Minutes went by, and the score would not move again, confirming that the first points of this Neom Beach Soccer Cup would remain in UAE’s hands. The final 4-1 get Mohamed Al Mazmi’s side the eventual leaders of the competition.
Goals: 1-0: Humaid, min. 0 (1); 2-0: Abbas Ali, min. 10 (2); 2-1: Temple, min. 3 (2); 3-1: A.Khalaf, min. 3 (2); 4-1: W. Beshr, min. 2 (2);
For complete results, standings and stats, click here.
