Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Four unanswered goals in the third period put the gloss on what had been an evenly-fought quarter-final as reigning Asian champions Iran remained on track to retain their 2013 title and a place at the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with a 6-1 win over the UAE.
UAE skipper Ali Hassan Karim put the 2007 and 2008 Asian champions four minutes into Thursday’s meeting between two of the continent’s top beach soccer exponents but after Mehran Morshedizadeh had levelled the tie three minutes later it was all one way traffic in the scoring stakes as five more Iranian players got their names on the score sheet.
Seyed Peyman Hosseini was the first of the quintet to find the net after Morshedizadeh, with the Iranian goalkeeper scoring in the 15th minute with what was his second of the tournament following his effort in Iran’s 8-1 win over Thailand in the group stage.
At 2-1 down the UAE were far from out of the reckoning going into the third period but three goals in a three minute spell from Amir Hosein Akbari (27th), Mohammad Ahmadzadeh (28th) and skipper Ali Naderi (30th) consigned the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup hosts to their fate before a 34th minute Farid Boulokbashi penalty capped the win that takes the Iranians through to the semi-finals, where they will meet either Japan or Bahrain on Friday.
The winners, runners-up, and third place finishers at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship will represent Asia at the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Espinho, Portugal from July 9 to 19.
Photo: beachsoccer.com