Italy and Brazil advanced to the final of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with wins in their semifinal matches in Marseille, France on Saturday.
Italy needed penalty kicks to advance past Spain after the teams were deadlocked 4-4 after three periods of play. Massimiliano Esposito was the hero for Italy, scoring on his penalty kick after Spain's Amerelle hit the post with his attempt.
Amarelle opened the scoring for Spain just over two minutes into the opening period but Esposito responded less than two minutes later to level the score at 1-1.
Simone Feudi added a goal for Italy just after the five-minute mark to take a 2-1 lead.
Spain pulled even on a free kick from Javi Alvarez just over a minute into the second, which was the last goal scored until Javier Torres regained the lead for Spain in the final minute of the period.
Roberto Pasquali opened the final period by scoring on a quick volley to level the score at 3-3.
Amarelle struck again to break the deadlock in the 35th minute but Pasquali scored two seconds later on a carbon copy of his first goal to tie the game at four and send the game to a shootout.
Brazil rallies to advance
Brazil needed to rally three separate times but managed to advance to the final by virtue of a 5-4 win over Portugal.
Andre paced Brazil with a hat trick in the win, while teammate Bruno scored the game-winner in the 35th minute of play.
Andre opened the scoring for Brazil before Madjer and Belchior scored to give Portugal a 2-1 advantage at the 16:22 mark.
Brazil's Benjamin scored just 10 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2 before Torres pushed Portugal ahead with a goal just before the third period.
Another goal from Andre tied the score early in the third before Alan restored the one-goal lead at 4-3 less than a minute later.
But Brazil wouldn't be denied as Andre levelled the score in the 29th minute and then went ahead for good on Bruno's long strike.
Brazil and Italy will square off in the final of the Beach Soccer World Cup on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBCSports.ca).
