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Morocco upset UAE in beach soccer

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El Hadaoui hat trick edges hosts on opening day of beach soccer at the Dubai International Marine Club.

Published: Wed 5 Nov 2014, 11:35 AM

Updated: Tue 6 Aug 2024, 3:27 PM

  • By
  • Moni Matthews (principal Correspondent)

Morocco’s Azzeddine El Hamidy and the UAE’s Waleed Salem fight it out. Photo Dhes Handumon/ Khaleej Times

Dubai: Morocco, inspired by a superb hat-trick by Nassim El Hadaoui, upset hosts UAE 4-3 in Group A on the opening day of the fourth Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup at the Dubai International Marine Club sand pitch complex. Azzedine El Haamidy added to Morocco’s tally early in the second period of the match (2-0). El Hadaoui was on target in the first, second and third periods (1-0, 3-0, 4-3).

In the day’s two earlier games, Brazil and Russia registered comfortable wins over USA (10-3) and Japan (9-3) respectively. Defending champions Iran and the world’s fourth ranked side Portugal were locked goalless with 3:20 minutes to go for the first period long whistle at the time of going to the Press.

Morocco led 1-0 and 3-0 at the end of the first and second periods, and scored the match winner in the fourth for the hard earned 4-3 victory. The new force in African beach soccer, Morocco were pitted against a fast and nippy opening UAE five but the Mediterranean men settled down to play delightful beach soccer with superb chest traps, heading and first time attempts.

‘Haji’ Abbassseri Daryaei brought life back to the complex when he rammed home two great goals off through passes for the UAE to come within striking distance of the visitors (2-3) in the third and final period when the UAE started to reassert themselves. Hassan Ali Helal Al Hammadi triggered off wild cheers and shouting in the stands when he rocketed home one to the left corner past the diving Fandhghal (3-3) who looked absolutely impenetrable till the three-goal UAE spell in the third period.

However El Hadaoui, one of the best strikers in the world, drove in the final nail to nullify the comeback trail of the UAE on a night when there was hardly little to choose between the two sides.

Haji had one last chance to be the night’s real hero, and all he had to do was tap in a cross from a hand shaking distance to draw parity with a minute to go. He missed the golden opportunity as the crowd came out with a loud ‘oohh’ that echoed out of the stands across the Mina Seyahi beach.

Then there was another narrow escape hardly 30 seconds later for the Moroccans when a UAE long ranger from the midfield hit the vertical post and went out of play.

“On paper at least the Morocco opener was supposed to go our way but this is soccer especially the beach type where the fluctuations keep coming in a matter of seconds. We just couldn’t score when our moves were good in the first period, but that early goal never came and we always had to fight back,” said UAE’s Brazilian coach ‘Huga’ Gustavo Henrique.

It took 4min and 2sec before the account was opened during the game. The UAE enjoyed the major share of exchanges and had several tries at the goal but the alert Portuguese keeper Mohammed Fandghal kept his citadel clean.

Against the run of play Morocco slipped one to the top of the net with a clever scoop-tap by skipper Nassim El Hadaoui with 5:58min to go for the first period whistle. The UAE missed easy chances when frontliners Ali Mohammad Mohammadi and Walid Mohammad Mohammadi were slow while trying to connect the great crosses and through passes made possible by Ahmed Beshir Salem and Waleed Beshir Saleem.

World champs and runners-up here last year, Russia, looked like registering a massive victory margin early in the second match but had to finally settle for a 9-3 win over Japan in the second Group B match of the eight nation tournament. The maroon clad Russians, one of the most consistent sides in recent years punctured the Japanese defence several times in the opening minutes of the first period for a solid 5-1 surge.

The opening match of the event and in Group A saw world number two Brazil outpace Concacaf champs USA 10-3 after gaining early advantage with a 4-2 sitting in the first period of 12 minutes.

The second and third periods of the same duration saw Brazil well ahead with solid trapping and great long range shots at goal that kept USA goaltender Aldo Balsano on his toes throughout the regulation time of 36 minutes.

Fernando Valencia’s pile driver from some 15 metres out which gave Brazil their eighth goal was a beauty that was appreciated greatly by the small turnout for the fixture. Brazilian coach Alexander Soares said: “We maintain the tempo with a full attack mode always, and coupled with the experience of my team of playing regular international games stood us well today (Tuesday). The USA are a fast improving side and dangerous always.”



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