(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The conditions were ideal with cool breeze wafting across the 3,500-seater, state-of-the-art stadium at the Kite Beach in Jumeirah. And, the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup could not have asked for a better start to the five-day tournament with defending champions Brazil pumping in five goals against Spain's two in the opening encounter on Tuesday.
But if the Verdeamarela hardly broke a sweat during their cruise, the UAE were left fuming after their 1-3 defeat to Egypt.
The referee barely blew his whistle when Egypt were off to a flying start scoring in the very first second and second kick of the match. Haitham Atef Mahsoub scooped the ball to Ahmed Elshahat Mohamed who let fly a left-footer which had the UAE goalkeeper Mohamed Aljasmi flummoxed to finish the first period with a solitary goal advantage.
Immediately on resumption in the second period, Ali Mohammad restored parity for UAE by finding the gap between the legs of a defender and goalkeeper Abdelaziz Sabah Ibrahim.
Haitham Atef Mahsoub put Egypt ahead with six minutes remaining in the third period with an angled shot from the right flank to the second post.
Moustafa Aly Mohamed Aly shot from the right flank and the ball deflected off a defender and Mohamed Abdelnaby Hassan nodded home after goalkeeper Aljasmi was caught on the wrong foot.
Defending champions Brazil played like a well-oiled machine in their 5-2 demolition of Spain.
A brace of goals from captain Bruno Da Silva Xavier and Luiz Alberto do Nascimento and one from Rodrigo Soares da Costa put paid to Spain's hopes who at one stage did well to be Even Stevens on 2-2 after Eduard Suarez Molina and Llorenc Gomez Leon found the back of the Brazil net.
Brazil are looking to clinch their third consecutive title, which would be their fourth in total.
They also extended their winning streak to 64 games.
The Brazilian national coach Gilberto da Costa was happy with the result.
"We had a pretty good training week prior to coming to Dubai and we want to maintain what we have been doing over the last few years."
Gilberto has another reason to look forward to on Saturday, as he will also be in the Beach Soccer Stars gala as one of the three nominees for the Best Coach of the Year award.
Brazil are in Group A with UAE, Spain and Egypt. -
Wednesday's matches
4.15pm: Egypt vs Brazil
5.30pm: Spain vs UAE
6.45pm: Russia vs USA
8pm: Tahiti vs Iran
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