AFC - Ali Arani’s Islamic Republic of Iran team sealed a 6-2 victory over Lebanon at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium on Monday to secure their semi-final place at the AFC U-20 Futsal Championship 2017.
Hussein Albaba gave Lebanon the lead in the fourth minute, prompting an immediate response from Iran through Omid Khani. Further goals from Hamzeh Kadkhoda, captain Touhid Lotfi and a Lebanon own-goal just before the break gave Iran a comfortable 4-1 lead heading into half-time.
Mohammad Taheri eventually added to Iran’s tally in the second-half, but Lebanon continued to press hard to try to find a way back into the game and were rewarded when Steve Koukezian received a neat back-heel to slot past the Iran keeper. But the Iranians responded immediately with a headed goal from Lotfi, his second of the game, making it 6-2 with five minutes remaining.
- Iran set to meet Thailand in the semi-finals on Wednesday, May 24
Islamic Republic of Iran: KHANI 5’, KADKHODA 9’, ALBABA ‘19 (OG), LOTFI 15’, TAHERI 29’, LOTFI 35’
Lebanon: ALBABA 4’, KOUKEZIAN 34’