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AFC - Iran stayed on course for a record
eighth consecutive AFC Futsal Championship crown after defeating Thailand
6-3 and booking their berth in the semifinals on Tuesday here at the
Yunusabad Sports Complex.
In the other inconsequential Group D match, Turkmenistan demolished
Indonesia 10-3.
Iran went into the encounter as overwhelming favourites but preferred to
play cautiously against their ASEAN rivals, no wonder the memory of last
year’s shock 3-3 draw, Team Melli’s first ever in the history of the
tournament, still fresh in the minds of Vahid Shamsaee and his teammates.
The Thais went flat out and Panuwat Janta opened the scoring for them in the
very first minute, capitalising on some lax Iranian defence. But this was
almost immediately neutralised by Shamsaee (2) and the next goal didn’t
materialise after some ultradefensive play by both sides till the 18th
minute. Prasert Innui scored this one and Thailand had re-established their
lead which was however shortlived after Shamsaee netted his brace on the
stroke of half time.
The second period saw Iran reasserting their control and camping in the Thai
half. But poor finishing and some tight marking meant only Mostafa Nazari
(24), Maged Raise (27), Shamsaee (30) and Mohsin Zarei (34) could bulge the
net. Sermphan Kurmthinkaew pulled one more goal back for Thailand on 33
minutes.
”We had to change out strategy after the first Thai goal,” said Iran’s coach
Jurandir Dutra after the match. “The players were also nervous in the first
half and made many mistakes.”
”But we have the kind of players who can decide the outcome of a match. If
you ask me, the championship has started only today for us!”
Iran meet the toppers of Group B – either Japan or Tajikistan – in the
second semifinal on May 26. Only Japan have defeated Iran in the
seven-year-long history of the tournament.
Turkmenistan’s match against Indonesia was only of academic interest but
this didn’t prevent the Central Asian team from walloping its rivals. On the
mark for Turkmenistan were Agajan Resulov (14), Artur Gevorkyan
(7,16,19,30), Aleksandir Sidorov (10,21), Taji Abdullayev (24,32) and Mergen
Orazov (38), while Indonesia’s goals came from Israqul Issa (23) and
Safarudin (39, 39).
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