UAE kick off Intercontinental Beach football Cup campaign with win over Spain

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

In another replay from the FIFA Beach football World Cup group stages, La Roja took a step toward defeating UAE for the second time this year as Joselito polished off a slick move to take the lead.

However, UAE Captain Walid hit back seconds later with a goal from close range, and then Waleed Beshr pounded in a second from distance.

In the next period, the Emiratis did well to hold off the Spanish attacks and two clinical goals from Malahi and Ahmed saw them pull ahead of the visitors, taking the score to 4-1 heading into the last 12 minutes.

Spain struggled to get back into the match against their superior hosts, but a shining light was the performance of recent recruit Joselito. The 24-year-old netted a goal in each period to complete a hat-trick on his Intercontinental Cup debut.

In the final third, UAE took their tally to six, and even a defensive slip-up where Eduard Suarez pulled a goal back for Spain wasn’t enough to turn the match around, and the hosts’ tenth Intercontinental campaign got off to the ideal start.

Goals: 0-1: Joselito, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Walid, min. 6 (1); 2-1: Waleed B., min. 5 (1); 3-1: A. Malahi, min. 4 (2); 4-1: Ahmed B., min. 3 (2); 5-1: Abbas, min. 0 (2); 5-2: Joselito, min. 0 (2); 5-3: Joselito, min.9 (3); 5-4: Eduard, min. 2 (3); 6-4: Waleed B., min. 2 (3);