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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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
RESULTS
5pm: Rated Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Tair, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner: Son Of Normandy, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24
July 8: New Zealand v Lions
Honeymoonish
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