AFC - Defending champions Chonburi Bluewave secured a place in the AFC Futsal Club Championship semi-finals as Group B winners after they leap-frogged Dabiri Tabriz into top spot with Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Iranian side at Shuangliu Sports Centre.

Suphawut Thueanklang notched his third goal of the tournament from the penalty spot in the first half before Jirawat Sornwichian doubled the lead just after the midway point in the second period.

A goal from Farid Namazi ratcheted up the tension with four minutes of the game remaining as Suphawut then missed a penalty before an own goal from Namazi ended the tie as a contest in the closing seconds.

The result sees both sides go through into the semi-finals with Chonburi due to face the runners-up in Group A - either Nagoya Oceans or Shenzhen Nanling Tielang - and Tabriz the winners.

"It was a very exciting and difficult game as we expected. Today I am very happy with my team and we made an excellent performance in defence," said Chonburi coach Jose Maria Pazos.

"We need to improve with the attack because we didn't have the ball too much – if we have a chance to win this tournament we need to have more confidence in the attack.

"We accept any opponent in the semi-final, Nagoya or Shenzhen, both teams will be equally strong but we will do our best."

An enthralling and hard-fought first half was shaded by Tabriz with Esmaeil Mehr in the Chonburi goal far the busier. Both Mortteza Ezzati and Vahid Shafiei forced the flamboyant custodian into sprawling saves as Chonburi struggled to maintain possession and invited pressure from the Iranians.

With so much at stake for both sides, tackles flew in frequently and fast as the foul counter for both sides raced upwards until they tallied a dangerous five apiece.

And it was Tabriz who were punished as Mohammad Koohestani's clumsy tackle drew the sixth foul against his side and a spot-kick for Chonburi which Suphawut confidently dispatched for his third goal of the tournament.

Tabriz thought they had restored parity on the brink of half-time as Ezzati followed up a loose ball to tuck past Mehr, but the match officials had adjudged the buzzer to have already blown, causing consternation on the bench of the Iranian club and much relief for Chonburi.

After the interval, Tabriz pressed in numbers for the leveler but they were hit on the counter as Jirawat raced down the left flank before delicately lifting the ball over the already committed Alireza Samimi shortly after the half-hour mark.

Despite the setback, Tabriz were not to be denied their goal and after darting in from the right flank Namazi drilled an angle shot across Mehr into the far corner for his third goal in three games.

But with the Iranians living life on the edge again as their foul counter hit five, Namazi gave away a sixth foul in the final minute of the game for another penalty however this time Samimi came out on top as he blocked Suphawut's strike with his body.

And there was still time for one final twist in the tale as with Tabriz fully committed up field, Mehr intercepted the ball and hurled it up the pitch, where it took a deflection off Namazi on its way into the net to confirm all three points and a semi-final place as Group B winners for Chonburi.

"The game was a very good game and the level and speed of the match was at the very highest of Asian futsal," said Tabriz assistant coach Reza Kordi.
"The Tabriz team can prepare for any opponent in the semi-finals. Nagoya or Shenzhen, it doesn't matter we'll be ready."

"And if we get to the final and we face Chonburi again – we'll definitely beat them."