UAE go down fighting as Japan beat Italy in opener

After a tight and low-scoring encounter, Spain came out on top after downing the hosts UAE in a penalty shootout.

La Roja played at the Intercontinental Cup for the first time in 2018 and on their second appearance they were welcomed to the sand by hosts UAE.

The first period saw a combination of brilliant goalkeeping and wayward shots keep the scoreboard unchanged, but the breakthrough eventually came when Chiky blasted in the opener just before the first whistle.

Alonso’s side had a slim advantage going into the second stage, but it only lasted six minutes as Abbas netted a fine strike to level up, and as the locals pressed, they looked the more likely to find the net next.

Sure enough, they did just that and it was deep into the final period that Ahmed Beshr deflected a Llorenç back-pass past Pablo between the Spanish posts. But Javi Torres got the last touch on the Emirati line to bring the sides back to 2-2.

With little between the sides after three periods, it went to extra time and when the added three minutes were up, it was penalties. The Spanish keeper proved the hero, saving two spotkicks to earn a point for Spain.

Meanwhile, the Samurai upset the 2018 European champions in the opening game in Dubai, holding off late Italian attacks for an early three points.

The first test for the Asian champions came against the Azzurri in the Intercontinental Cup’s opening fixture. The top scorer in virtually every competition he has played in this year, Gabriele Gori took the opening goal with a freekick from way inside his own half.

Zurlo swung in a fine shot to double the advantage with 30 seconds of the period left but Okuyama pulled one back immediately, polishing off a brilliant team goal from Japan.

Oba scrambled a second over the lie, drawing the Samurai level just past the game’s midway point and the final 12 minutes began at 2-2, but the Japanese surged into an incredible offensive. As Oba scored again, muscling off two Italian defenders, to take the lead.

Not long after Akaguma, converted number four, before Okuyama grabbed his second of the game.

Gori put a way a freekick of his own, but time was running out and the score stood at 5-3. With a minute of play left, Ramaciotti turned in Italy’s fourth to reduce the gap to just one, but Ozu blasted home a rocket to stem the Italian momentum.

An fantastic result for Ruy Ramos’ side sees they take an early victory in Dubai, and upset an Italian squad who were amongst many people’s favourites for the title.