Mozambique: Machava Stadium edges closer to comeback after $10 million-plus overhaul - Watch
Beach soccer: Mozambique loses to Portugal in friendly ahead of World Cup Russia
8:39 CAT | 30 Jul 2021
Photo: Federação Moçambicana de Futebol
Mozambique’s national beach soccer team lost 8-3 to Portugal in a friendly match at Praia de Buarcos in Figueira da Foz this Wednesday. The match was part of Mozambique’s pre-competition training for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia.
Even knowing that Portugal was a leader in the world ranking, Mozambique played the match head-on with an open game.
However, as expected, Portuguese class and technique showed in a 4-1 lead at the end of the first period, with goals from João Gonçalves (1), Ruben Brilhante (2) and Fábio Costa (1) for Portugal, and Júlio Manjate for Mozambique.
In the second period, Mozambique spirits and the team’s good physical condition allowed them to play their own game, if losing 3-2, with goals from Bernardo Lopes (1) and Gonçalves (2) for the home team and Arroz (1) and Rachide Simithe (1) for Mozambique.
In a very intense game with extra time in each period, and both parties agreeing to use all their players, Mozambique managed, thanks to their physical freshness, to create clear goal situations in the last period, forcing the world-ranking beach soccer team to take defensive precautions. The period ended 1-0 for Portugal though, goal scored by Rodrigo Pinhal, leaving the final result 8-3.
The game was watched by leading figures of Portuguese and world sports. Humberto Coelho, vice president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Jordan Santos, named best beach soccer player in the world but currently recovering from an injury, and João “Madjer” Saraiva were among the notables.
Mozambique get “turn-key” opportunity to train in Figueira da Foz
In addition to the match, there was also time for the exchange of gifts between representatives of the two countries. Humberto Coelho, Mafalda Azenha, Councillor of the Municipality of Figueira da Foz and Aurélio Matias, President of Beach Soccer in the Mozambican Football Federation, were among the participants.
Azenha took advantage of the opportunity to express his willingness to host the Mozambican team for training and matches with local and national teams, having handed the keys to the municipality to the ambassador of the National Teams of Mozambique in Europe, Cláudio Ventura.
The councillor wished the Mozambique team luck in the Russia World Cup, hoping that the final game would be Portugal-Mozambique.
Similar sentiment were expressed by Humberto Coelho, on the Mozambican side, with president of the Beach Soccer Committee Aurélio Matias thanking the leader of Figueira da Foz for being available, and inviting her to visit Mozambique.
Competition: Friendly game to prepare for the Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021.
Location: Municipality of Figueira da Foz, Praia de Buarcos, Portugal.
Referees: Pinto Nunes, José Carriço and Pedro Nascimento.
Teams
Portugal: Tiago Petrony; Pedro Marques, Rúben Brilhante, Balchior; João Gonçalves, João Cabral, Fábio Costa, Pedro Mano, André Lourenço, Bernardo Lopes Andrade and Rodrigo Pinhal.
Mozambique: Anivaldo, Gerson Nelson, Eusébio, Bachir, Hermínio, Fadil, Moreira, Rachide, Gabito, Zabula, Júlio Manjate, Yuran, António, Ramossete and Barca.
Source: Federação Moçambicana de Futebol
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.