Mauricinho scored a hat-trick as the Brazilians crucially kept tournament top scorer Gabriele Gori largely quiet all game at the National Beach Soccer Arena.

Gori did score the tournament's 250th goal and his 15th of the competition from the penalty spot, but he was largely subdued by the Brazilian defence.

Brazil goalkeeper Mao, who was making his tournament-record 45th appearance, was also on target for the South Americans while Bokinha, Rodrigo, Catarino and Lucao also found the net.

Matteo Marrucci, Dario Ramacciotti and Francesco Corosiniti all also scored for the Italians but it proved insignificant as Brazil made it through to tomorrow's final.

Awaiting them in the gold medal match are Tahiti, who will be looking to go one better than 2015 when they were beaten by Portugal in the final.

Tahiti defeated Iran in a marathon penalty shoot-out to reach the final after the sides drew 1-1 in regulation time. 

Peyman Hosseini of Iran saved Li Raimana Li Fung Kuee's penalty in the first minute while Tahiti's Tearii Labaste struck the crossbar with a free-kick from distance, but not many chances were created in a nervy opening period.

The opening goal finally came midway through the second period when Iran's Ali Nazem poked home a shot from close range after a failed clearance by Heiarii Tavanae.

Tahiti eventually drew level with four-and-a-half minutes left in the match through Patrick Tepa.

Captain Naea Bennett found Tepa with a calm cross and the midfielder timed his run to perfection before finishing with confidence to send the match to extra time.

Neither side could find the decisive winner in the additional period, so the game went to penalties.

It took 12 attempts to decide the winner in the shoot-out, but eventually it was Raimoana Bennett who scored to send the Tahitians through to their second consecutive final.

The tournament is due to finish tomorrow with the third place play-off between Italy and Iran taking to the sand first before the final.