Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ho Chi Minh City: Sanaye Giti Pasand sealed their position as Group C winners after battling to a 3-2 victory over Japan’s Shriker Osaka in their final AFC Futsal Club Championship Vietnam 2017 group match on Monday.
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With both teams having clinched their spots in the quarter-finals, Giti Pasand and Shriker Osaka were battling for Group C supremacy. Adding to the mix, with no way of predicting the outcome of their Group D opponents who only play tomorrow, both sides knew a victory would increase their chances of avoiding competition heavyweights and current Group D leaders Bluewave Chonburi.
Giti Pasand boast the more decorated trophy cabinet, but it was Shriker Osaka who took the lead with virtually the game’s first chance through Sota Shibano who rose above his marker before connecting exquisitely to Nobuya Osodo’s deflected cross inside 57 seconds.
The early goal served as wake-up call for the Iranians as they stormed forward with greater intent and purpose. It took Giti Pasand just three minutes to respond after Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh’s driving effort was redirected by Mohammad Zarei Savarchi who made no mistake from close range.
The 2012 champions were beginning to find their rhythm, reaping their reward six minutes later when Osodo gifted possession, rather uncharacteristically, to Savarchi who was just metres away from the Shriker goal-frame, and the Iranian did not require a second invitation to give his side the lead.
Soichiro Kakihara was unquestionably the busier of the two custodians and his quick reflexes kept his side in the game when he was forced to produce a double save, first from Abolghasem Orouji’s low drive, then again from Ahmad Esmaeilpour’s rebound.
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