Velappan Congratulates Iran Championship in Asia Futsal Meet

MNA – Secretary General of the Asian Football Confederation, Peter Velappan, Tuesday extended his congratulations to Iran on winning the Asian futsal title for the sixth consecutive time.
In a message to Ali-Akbar Erfanian, secretary general of Iran’s Football Federation, the AFC official hailed the undisputed champion’s performance.

He expressed his satisfaction with Iran’s qualification for the world futsal event in Taiwan.

The star-studded Iran handed the budding Nippon a 5-3 defeat in the sixth edition’s final in Macau, China, on April 26 to remain the continent’s futsal lord.

Japan, which had lost to Iran in the past three finals and was seeking revenge left licking its wounds.

The almond-eyed players’ dream seemed to come true as it took an early lead but Iran hit three to notch a first-half 3-1 win.

Mohammad Hashemzadeh leveled the match and Iran’s second and third came by Kazem Mohammadi and skipper Mohammadreza Heidarian.

Hashemzadeh grabbed his own double and side’s fourth after the restart and Lazio import Vahid Shamsaei added the fifth two minutes from the normal time.

Japan was not dead yet however as it reduced the arrears, finding the back of the net twice to restore some prestige in the last moments.

Shamsaei was again introduced 'Goalscorer of Asia' with 32 goals in the sixth edition.

MAIN THREAT

Playing in front of over 12,000 home fans in the Azadi hall, west of Tehran, Iran overcame the struggling Japan 8-4 in 2001 to retain the title for the third consecutive time.

Iran proved too strong for Japan in the fourth edition in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, winning the final 6-0.

Japan reduced the gap next year in Tehran as it lost 6-4 in a nail-biting final.

The hardworking Japanese side is now Iran’s archrival and resumes training in the hope of outdoing the invincible Asian side.

NO STUTTERING

Iran opened title defense with Hong Kong 15-0 rout and extended its winning streak by thrashing Indonesia 13-3, drubbing Cambodia 24-1, taming Uzbekistan 8-1, and clobbering Kuwait 10-3.

Iran vaulted into the final of the sixth Asian Futsal Championships Saturday as it crushed the Thai side 6-1 in the semifinal.

The victory helped Iran book a berth in 2004 world event in Taiwan.

Taiwan will host the world futsal matches from November 21 to December 5.

Iran stood seventh in the latest world rankings released by the Futsal Committee of FIFA in early April.