Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Espinho: Asia’s interest in the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup ended on Thursday when Iran were edged 5-4 by Tahiti in a hard-fought quarter-final clash on Espinho’s Praia da Baía,
The 2013 Asian champions, who were appearing in the last eight of the tournament for the first time, came from behind four times in the match but were unable to find a reply to Heimanu Taiarui’s 31st minute winner as Tahiti set up a semi-final clash with Italy, who defeated Japan 3-2 earlier on Thursday.
Tahitian pivot Naea Bennett broke the deadlock ten minutes into the first period before Mohammad Ahmadzadeh maintained his record of scoring in every match at the competition when he followed up his goals against Spain, Brazil, and Mexico with the equaliser two minutes into the second period.
Tahiti regained their lead barely a minute later when Bennett bagged his brace but for the second time in the contest Iran drew level, with Mehran Morshedi restoring parity in the 13th minute.
Patrick Tepa put Tahiti, semi-finalists on home soil at the last edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup two years ago in Papeete, put Oceania’s sole representatives back in the driving seat in the 26th minute but again Iran wasted little time in getting back on level terms, with Moslem Mesigar making it 3-3 with a penalty less than a minute later.
But after Raimana Li Fung Kuee’s 29th minute strike was cancelled out by Mohammad Mokhtari, Taiarui, appearing in his third FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, had the final say for Tahiti when the 28-year-old defender scored the winning goal with four minutes left to play.
Photo: FIFA/Getty Images