Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Goalkeeper Yushi Sekiguchi scored from the spot before saving from Saif Abdulmalek as Japan’s Nagoya Oceans claimed the AFC Futsal Club Championship for a record third time with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over NAFIT Al-Wasat of Iraq after the sides had played out a dramatic 4-4 draw in Saturday’s final at Bangkok Arena.
Tomoki Yoshikawa opened the scoring early on for Nagoya, only for Ghodrat Bahadori to level in the eighth minute. Koichi Saito restored the Japanese side’s advantage but Farhad Tavakoli made things all square at the interval.
NAFIT went in front with eight minutes to play through Hasan Dakheel, before Yoshio Sakai scored late to take the tie to extra-time. Dakheel’s double was then cancelled out by captain Ryuta Hoshi at the death to take the final into a shootout.
After both sides netted their first five penalties, Sekiguchi stepped up to produce a composed finish before saving from Abdulmalek as Nagoya added to their titles in 2011 and 2014.
Costa hails Nagoya after dramatic AFC Futsal Club Championship win
WATCH THE AFC FUTSAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL HIGHLIGHTS HERE
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/yushi_20sekiguchi_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/nafit_nagoya_final_jpg_2.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/final_nagoya_oceans_jpg.html
