Defending champions Brazil win NEOM Beach Soccer Cup 2023

NEOM, Saudi Arabia: Brazil was crowned on Saturday as winner of the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup 2023 champion for the second year in a row. They went undefeated in each of their games to lift their second NEOM Beach Soccer Championship title.

Brazil won 5-2 against Japan in the final at the Gayal Beach in NEOM in front of a large number of spectators.

Both sides battled to take the lead in the opening period, but it took over 11 minutes for that opening goal to come. 

After a fantastic swivel under pressure from his opponents, Yamauchi blasted his shot into the top-right corner from close range to send Japan ahead in the crucial fixture.

Brazil were determined to make their way back into the match and with less than four minutes played in the second period, Mauricinho added to his goal tally to even up the scoring. Japan found themselves in front once again, however, as Kibune converted from a penalty, but the match provided another twist as Brendo struck for the Brazilians and Catarino’s extraordinary strike from distance rippled the back of the Japanese net.

With Brazil taking a one goal advantage into the final period, the match was still very much on a knife edge. Following a perfectly weighted lofted pass, Brendo slammed home for his brace to widen the gap between the nations and the match was put to bed when Edson Hulk capitalized on a defensive error.

The final whistle blew to confirm that Brazil had retained the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup.

After the match, three individual awards were given out. Brazil’s Mauricinho was the MVP of the tournament, as well as joint top scorer with team mate, Edson Hulk on seven goals and Japan’s Kawai was the best goalkeeper.

In the 3rd and 4th place match, UAE came from strong to