The 2014 winners had lived up to their ‘Reis da Praia’ – ‘Kings of the Beach’ – nickname all week, handsomely winning every game to a combined score of 33-7 on their way to Saturday’s final in front of a sold-out Dubai International Marine Club.
A fevered crowd inspired them to spark into life once again. Rampaging defender Catarino was the star, his brace bookending an impressive triumph against stoic opponents who had claimed 2013’s third edition and took the lead through forward Moslem Mesigar’s early toe-poke.
“Iran fought until the end,” said overjoyed coach Gilberto Costa, who was physical coach for the UAE from 2008-09. “We needed to have attention until the end of the game.
“Sometimes our team needs to control the ball. End of the game, you could see our control here.
“Now, Brazil has come back to be champions.”
The 13-time world champions never looked back after the early setback. Beyond Catarino’s double, tournament top scorer Bruno Xavier converted a penalty for his eighth goal to make it 2-1, forward Mauricinho struck a deflected effort, midfielder Rafael Bokinha tapped in from Lucao’s outrageous back heel and defender Daniel powered a header home.
Iran midfielder Mohammad Ahmadzadeh’s penalty midway through the second period to make it 5-2 proved mere consolation for the 2016 Continental Beach Soccer Tournament Ordos champions.
Brazil came into the tournament third in the global rankings, with the result – allied to their preceding Mundialito and Supercopa da Nacoessuccesses – sure to be a springboard towards the spring’s 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Ominously, Costa insisted his squad can still get better.
He said: “We need to continue to work. Portugal, Russia, they all want to be better than Brazil.
“But we need to continue to work. We have a lot of things to improve.”
Elsewhere, dethroned holders Russia struck four unanswered goals as they raced towards an eventual 4-3 victory against Tahiti and third place.
Skipper Naea Bennett gave the islanders an early lead, before the Russians ran wild during this repeat of last year’s showpiece.
World Cup qualifiers Poland required penalties to see off Egypt after a 3-3 draw to claim fifth, while hosts the UAE avoided further embarrassment in a 4-3 victory against bottom-placed United States.
