Tasnim - Iran’s women’s futsal team defeated Palestine 16-0 in its opening match of Group B at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
On Saturday, Iranian women showed they are genuine contenders for the gold medal in the event in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Iran, who beat Japan 1-0 to clinch the inaugural AFC Women's Futsal Championship title in 2015, took an 8-0 lead as four players went on to hit hat-tricks.
Sohila Malmoulitarazi got the ball rolling with Iran's first in the fifth minute before completing her hat-trick in the 19th and 38th minutes.
Joining the hat-trick party were Fereshteh Karimi (11th, 27th, 29th), Sara Shirbeigi (7th,11th, 25th) and Nasimeh Sadat Gholami (17th, 21st, 37th).
Iran's other goals were scored by Fatemeh Papi (15th), Fereshteh Khosravi (10th), Fahimeh Zarei (34th) and Fatemeh Etedadi (35th).
Iran coach Shahrzad Mozafar was pleased with the huge win.
"We needed a good goal difference from this match because tomorrow Thailand play Palestine. So we needed to score as many goals as we could to secure first place in our group. We'd prefer to be first, that's why. I believe that not only Japan, but also Thailand has a strong team too,” Mozafar told the-AFC.com.
"I think Japan, Thailand and Iran can be champion of this tournament. So we are thinking not just about Japan, but Thailand has the same chances."
Results - Women's Group A: Japan 5-2 China, Turkmenistan 1-6 Hong Kong; Group B: Iran 16-1 Palestine.