Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuwait City: Sanaye Giti Pasand continued Iranian clubs’ tradition of playing in the final of the AFC Futsal Club Championship after beating defending champions Nagoya Oceans 6-3 in a thrilling semi-final on Thursday.
Iran international Ahmed Esmaeilpour scored a hat-trick to take his personal tally to nine goals in the tournament. Afshin Kazemi, Mohammad Keshavarz and goalkeeper Alireza Samimi were also on target for the Iranians. For Oceans, captain Shuta Mori, Tomoki Yoshikawa and Morioka Kaoru scored a goal apiece.
After both sides started cautiously, it was Oceans who drew the first blood after Tomoaki Watanabe released an ideal ball to unmarked captain Mori who did not miss to put the ball through the legs of Giti Pasand goalie Samimi in the 7th minute as the Iranian champions went behind for the first time in the tournament.
Giti Pasand struggled to create clear opening until the 14th minute when Esmaeilpour brought the scores level with a long-range driver. Esmaeilpour, playing his third finals after featuring in previous competitions for 2010 champions Foolad Mahan Sepahan and 2011 finalists Shahid Mansouri, later scored two goals in the final seconds of the match to complete his hat-trick.
Oceans’ goal machine Morioka Kaoru was to blame for Giti Pasand’s 2-1 lead after the Peruvian conceded the ball to Esmaeilpour who, instead of going for the goal himself, supplied an ideal ball to Afshin Kazemi to put the Iranians ahead one minute before the break.
Nagoya came back strong in the second half and when Saeid Taghizadeh missed a close chance, Yoshikawa scored a superb goal in counter-attack in the 25th minute to make it 2-2.
Both sides had their opportunities of finishing the match off but the goalkeepers were at their best before Iran international Mohammad Keshavarz struck a powerful drive to break the Japanese heart as Giti Pasand took the 3-2 lead with just three minutes remaining in the clock and added three more goals when the Japanese introduced power play.