[BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP] Russia repeated as beach soccer world champion with a 5-1 win over Spain in Saturday’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup final. Host Tahiti fellto Brazil in a shootout after their third-place game ended, 7-7.
After a scoreless first period, Russia scored three unanswered goals and cruised to the title. Dmitrii Shishin scored two goals to finish as the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals.
Tahiti fell to Russia, 5-3 in the semifinals. Russia got three goals from Shishinand two from Alexey Makarov as it broke open a 2-2 tie with three goals in the third period. The semifinals is the farthest Tahiti or any Pacific Islands teamfor that matter has ever advanced at a FIFA event.
In the other semifinal, Spain edged four-time champion Brazil, 2-1, on Nico‘s overtime goal. TheSpaniards have won the European title eight times but never reached the FIFA beach soccer final until this year.
One of the coldest countries in the world wins the world championship in beach soccer. The world is upside down.