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La Roja claim their first ever Mundialito, following a tight win over the hosts Portugal
Spain beat Portugal in the decider in Vilanova de Gaia to earn their first ever Mundialito de Futebol Praia and joining a truly selective club. Only USA, Brazil and Portugal, had won this prestigious event in its seventeen previous editions, and La Roja joins now the pack in the eighteenth.
All was set for a Portuguese fiesta today. The packed stadium was ready to experience a magical afternoon after two victories in two days, but the Spanish menace ended up changing that script.
Alan got things quickly in the right track for the hosts, netting the opener just 20 seconds into the game. Spain reacted rather quickly, though, with Llorenç balancing the score with his fifth goal, which made him the tournament?s top scorer, together with Belchior.
After those two fast strokes, the score got stuck, and none of the attempts, at either side, found the back of the net. Jordan pushed the Lusitanians ahead once again, perfectly heading a corner kick serve and placing the ball far from Dona?s reach.
The excitement explosion was quickly silenced, though. Raul Merida lasted just seconds to equalize the score once again. That brought to a thrilling last period, in which anything could happen.
Portugal was heading up front more decidedly, looking for a goal that would have given them their fifth Mundialito. Instead, though, it was Spain who would seize the cup in this one. Sidi would shake off his defender?s marking and would find a spot to send the ball to the back of Hidalgo?s nets.
With five minutes to go, Portugal tried to equalize the score by all means, but none of them was successful. Dona and the Spanish defense denied all the Portuguese attempts, and secured a historic win for La Roja.
Goals: 1-0: Alan, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Llorenç, min. 7 (1); 2-1: Jordan, min. 0 (2) ; 2-2 : Raul Mérida, min. 0 (2) ; 2-3 : Sidi, min. 5 (3) ;
Stunning reaction gives Italy first victory
The Italian National side grasped the last three points at stake with an amazing comeback against Japan, in a match they were losing 0-2 with just eight minutes to go.
Japan, who truly upset Spain yesterday, were in the way of doing exactly the same with the Italian side. After a balanced first period, in which not many goal chances were witnessed, Yamauchi swept the Asian runner-up ahead, with Matsuo to follow shortly afterwards for the 0-2.
That result could even mean for Japan the second place in this Mundialito. But the possibilities to that huge achievement vanished in the last period of the game.
In that last 12 minutes, the Azzurri reacted in full strength and turned the score around to clinch their first win in the event. Lead by a monstrous Ramacciotti, who scored two stunning goals, Esposito?s side balanced the score with three minutes to go.
In the remaining lapse, anything could happen, but it was Italy?s momentum, as Soria confirmed in the last breath. The powerful forward fought for the last ball in the Japanese box and tapped it in to seize the points for his team, denying Japan the chance to gain second place in this XVIII Mundialito Futebol Praia.
Goals: 0-1: Yamauchi, min. 10 (2); 0-2: Matsuo, min. 5 (2); 1-2: Ramacciotti, min. 8 (3); 2-2: Ramacciotti, min. 3 (3); 3-2: Soria, min. 0 (3);
BSWW MUNDIALITO 2013
Friday, 26th of July, 2013
13.05 ? Spain 5-1 Italy
14:20 ? Japan 1-6 Portugal
Saturday, 27th of July, 2013
13.05 ? Spain 2-4 Japan
14:20 ?Portugal 5-2 Italy
Sunday, 28th of July, 2013
13.05 ? Italy 3-2 Japan
14:20 ?Portugal 2-3 Spain
Final standings :
Winner ? Spain
Runner-up : Portugal
3rd place: Italy
4th place: Japan
Individual awards
MVP : Alan (POR)
Top scorer: Belchior (POR) and Llorenç (ESP) ? 5 goals
Best goalkeeper: Hidalgo (POR)
