Iran outline title credentials

AFC - Vahid Shamsaee scored twice as reigning champions Iran stepped up their pursuit of a ninth AFC Futsal Championship title with an 8-1 defeat of China.

Iran fought hard to break down China with Ali Asghar Hassanzade and Shamsaee each netting twice, while Mohammad Reza Heidarian, Majid Latifi, Kazem Mohammadi and Mohammad Taheri, who was sent-off for a second yellow card late on, were also on target.

It was yet another fearsome display by Hossein Shams' side, who defeated Kuwait 12-0 on Sunday and are top of Group D.

China, who suffered an 8-0 reverse to Team Melli in Japan last year, acquitted themselves well, harassing and haranguing in defence but they were starved of possession and worn down by the tournament favourites.

Taheri's blistering shot put Iran ahead after three minutes but China held firm until Shamsaee's inventive finish after nine minutes.

Shamsaee, with his back to goal, controlled a long ball from goalkeeper Mostafa Nazari on his chest and tucked the ball under advancing China stopper Zheng Tao.

China then had an effort disallowed after Nazari held on to the ball for four seconds resulting in an indirect free-kick.

Wu Zhuoxi passed the ball into the goal and thought the ball had taken a deflection, but the strike was ruled out by the officials.

China held firm until Zheng failed to hold Heidarian's shot and Hassanzade chipped in six minutes into the second half.

Seconds later Iran captain Heidarian was on target himself with a ferocious shot.

Shamsaee netted his second and Iran's fifth before Latifi slotted a sixth.

Hassanzade thundered in a seventh before Taheri was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Liang Shuang's shot crept under Nazari as China got on the scoresheet, but Mohammadi struck a left-foot volley for Iran's eighth.