Sporting, Vasco to contest beach soccer final

Sporting Lisbon and Vasco da Gama will face off in the Beach Soccer Club World Cup final after both posted semi-final victories on Friday.

Sporting edged Lokomotiv Moscow 5-4 despite a late charge from the Russians, who rallied from 5-2 down to draw within a goal with four minutes remaining.Alan nodded Sporting into the lead on four minutes, and produced a sublime lob to double the Portuguese club’s lead nine minutes later.Belchior got in on the act with a header one minute later and Lokomotiv were reeling.The Russians pulled a goal back through Ilya Leonov, but Madjer found the net at the far post to keep Sporting ahead 4-1.Shaykov’s powerful strike reduced the deficit to 4-2, but Fernando got one back for Sporting with a magnificent volley in the 31st minute.That proved to be enough for Sporting, though Lokomotiv made the finish interesting as Igor Borsuk and Shaykov both produced late goals.Meanwhile, Vasco da Gama saw off fellow Brazilian club Flamengo 5-4 to join Sporting in Saturday’s final.Flamengo striker Andre, who leads the tournament in scoring, improved his tally to 13 with an impressive four goals, though his individual feat was not enough to lead his side to the final.Betinho broke the deadlock for Vasco in just the third minute, and Bruno Xavier’s header saw Flamengo fall two goals behind.Andre nabbed his first in the sixth minute, but Pampero’s powerful effort put the score 3-1 in favour of Vasco seven minutes later.Andre and Xavier then traded goals as score reached 4-2, and Andre’s hat-trick goal drew Flamengo within a goal.Pampero’s second gave Vasco some breathing space, and Andre was only able to add one more as time expired.