DUBAI // A nation representing football's famous past defeated a nation representing football's controversial future on Saturday night as Brazil overcame a determined Russian team 3-2 in extra time in the final of the Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup.
Several white, blue and red tricolours were draped around the 2,000-seat temporary stadium at Dubai International Marine Club as the city’s growing Russian population turned out to show their support for their reigning Fifa beach soccer world champions and hosts of the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Yet, as is common in world sport, the neutrals adopted Brazil, the world’s most successful football team and hosts of this summer’s Fifa showpiece.
Arab men wore yellow shirts and young girls sported green and gold face-paint, but when the MC asked those from Brazil to “make some noise”, only a small pocket of the people responded.
“It was an incredible sensation to look out and see so many fans here,” said Gabriel, the Brazilian forced to sit out the final through injury. “To win here in Dubai just feels amazing – historical.”
Russia started strongest and could have taken the lead twice, but instead they fell behind to a clinical volleyed finish by Fred, who proved more popular than his namesake in the Selecao, who was jeered off the pitch last summer.
Russia continued to press and were awarded a penalty. Kirill Romanov picked himself up to send Brazilian goalkeeper Mao the wrong way, but Rodrigo restored Brazil’s lead with a neat finish.
A late free kick by Anatoliy Peremitin squeezed under the body of Mao to force extra-time.
Then, with just 53 seconds left of the additional three minutes and with penalties looming, Bruno Xavier slotted through Maxim Chuzhkov’s legs to secure the title for the Brazilians.
“This is the result of teamwork,” Xavier said. “Russia are very strong and it was difficult, but we played as a team and deserved to win.”
Mao, named player of the tournament, said: “I always believed we would win. The goal sneaked in, but I continued to believe ... It is in my character and this team’s character to fight until the end and that’s what we did.”
Earlier, the UAE met Morocco in the fifth-place play-off, but the hosts threw away a lead late on to lose 4-2.
Hassan Ali had given the UAE an early advantage, but the Moroccans drew level through an acrobatic volley by Nabil Boulakouaba. Abbas Ali Naseri Daryaei put the Emirates ahead again when he was quickest to react to bundle home a rebound but Nassim El Hadaoui equalised again with just 47 seconds left on the clock.
In the three-minute period of extra-time, the hosts completely capitulated, allowing Morocco to score twice and run out 4-2 winners.
"We are disappointed, of course," said Gustavo Zloccowicz, the UAE coach. "We wanted to achieve our best finish yet at this tournament, but we came up short."
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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