AFC - Iran champions Sanaye Giti Pasand’s coach Alireza Afzali has termed Thursday’s AFC Futsal Club Championship semi-final tie against defending champions Nagoya Oceans as the ‘match of the tournament’.

Giti Pasand, playing its first continental competition, raced through Group A to win all three matches with 19 goals in their kitty conceding just once to the hosts, Yarmouk SC.

In contrast, Oceans lost their first match to Uzbek side Ardus before recovering in the remaining matches which they won comfortably to finish second in Group B.

“A meeting with Oceans in the final would have been ideal but if you have the aspirations of being the champions, you come across good teams at any stages of the competition, so we have no complaints about it,” Alireza (in picture) told www.the-afc.com.

“It is not only we are giving respect to Oceans but I am sure Oceans would have wanted to prefer other teams than mine in the semi-final,” he said.

“I saw them playing, they are a strong side with good foreign players as well as Japanese international players who just won the AFC Futsal Championship, so it will be definitely not an easy walk for us.

“But my team has special qualities and all the boys are available for the selections as I am sure you will see them hitting top gear on Thursday,” he concluded.
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