Courtesy: The AFC.com


AUB Altyn Tash (KGZ) 1-8 Foolad Mahan (IRN)

Friday, 05 March 2010

Esfahan: Foolad Mahan Sepahan sent out a warning to their AFC Futsal Club Championship rivals with a dominant 8-1 win over AUB Altyn Tash Bishkek at Pirouzi Stadium on Friday.

Backed by a vociferous home crowd and lead by Iran legend Vahid Shamsaee, a win for the tournament hosts rarely looked in doubt after battling back from AUB's early strike.

The Kyrgyzstan side had made the ideal start when they scored from a swift counter that ended with skipper Etienne Gomes de Oliveira smashing the ball into the back of the net.

Geraldo da Silva cleared off the line from Mohammad Hashemzadeh's rasping drive soon after but the stadium erupted in the ninth minute when Javad Asghari levelled for Foolad.

That prompted a spell of dominance from the Iranians and they added a second two minutes before the break when Asghari was brought down inside the area and Shamsaee easily converted the resulting penalty kick.

The AUB players were clearly rattled by the vocal home crowd and Foolad went further ahead with two quick goals before the break.

First, Shamsaee stabbed home from Asghari's pass before Azamat Mendibaev put the ball into the back of his own net when trying to cut out Ali Hassan Zadeh's pass.

Foolad continued where they had left off after the break but AUB should have pulled a goal back when Abek Tilekeev was presented with an empty net following a break but he compounded to put the ball into the side netting.

Instead, Foolad added a fifth with a beautiful move where the Iranians broke quickly before Raesi and Asghari played a one-two that put the former clear and allowed him to slot home beyond the keeper's right.

Foolad were in the ascendancy and completed the rout with a goal from Asghari and two further strikes from Shamsaee to send the fans home happy.


Courtesy: The AFC.com


Afzali emphasises team ethos

Friday, 05 March 2010

Esfahan: Foolad Mahan Sepahan coach Hossein Afzali was keen to emphasise the importance of team work rather than single out the impact of futsal superstar Vahid Shamsaee despite the Iran legend scoring four goals as the AFC Futsal Club Championship hosts defeated AUB Altyn Tash Bishkek 8-1 in their opening Group A game on Friday.

Shamsaee is the most lethal goal scorer in the world at futsal and his skill and power was on display at Pirouzi Stadium as Foolad made light work of defeating their Kyrgyzstan rivals after falling behind to Etienne Gomes de Oliveira's strike.

But Afzali stressed his team does not revolve around the 36-year-old and instead highlighted the importance of the rest of his players.

“In the first half when Shamsaee was off the pitch we scored one goal and then we scored twice in the second half when he was again on the bench,” he said.

“When he is in the team he is like a morale boost for the rest of the players as they all respect him but it certainly does not mean the team is based on him.

“He is the best scorer in the world in futsal but it is not what we want only from him. He can sometimes be selfish and I feel he needs to take part in teamwork as well.”

The vocal home crowd were briefly silenced when AUB opened the scoring soon after kick off through Etienne.

Foolad's response was swift, however, as Javad Asghari struck after nine minutes and from then on there was only going to be one winner.

“The Kyrgyzstan team are professional, they played well and were a difficult side,” added Afzali.

“We did not know much about them so we got to know their weak points during the game and as it went on we got stronger and stronger.

“Our players have a lot of quality and they showed this quality throughout the game.”




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Pro's Cafe (LIB) 3-3 Port Authority (THA)

Friday, 05 March 2010

Esfahan: A last-second strike from Suchin Eamchalard denied Pro's Cafe their first win at the AFC Futsal Club Championship as they drew 3-3 with Port Authority of Thailand at Pirouzi Stadium on Friday.

Rabih Abou Chaaya's side twice recovered from going a goal behind before dominating the second half and thought they had won it when Khaled Takaji scored from a penalty kick in the final minute.

But the Thais secured a point when they immediately went down the other end and Suchin snatched a share of the spoils in the Group B encounter.

Port Authority drew first blood with less than a minute on the clock when Ulid Rossanakarn fired home from the left but Pro's Cafe hit back soon after when Jihad Bou Chakra rolled a free-kick into the path of Takaji and the forward rifled a shot into the top of the net.

The Thais regained their lead after 11 minutes when Madyalan Nattavut chipped the ball over Rabie Kakhi but once again the Lebanese battled back and levelled when Mahmoud Itani's shot was turned home by Ali Homsi.

Itani's tame volley went harmlessly wide after 30 minutes before Takaji's shot was put out for a corner by goalkeeper Sakchai Hamaitree.

It seemed it was only a matter of time before Pro's Cafe went ahead as player-coach Chaaya smashed an effort against the post before the woodwork again saved Port Authority with less than five minutes remaining when Takaji's instinctive strike hit the outside of the upright.

Pro's Cafe were certain they had snatched all three points with 20 seconds left on the clock when Takaji drilled home a penalty kick but Port Authority equalised straight from the restart through Suchin.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


‘We were caught napping’ admits Chaaya

Friday, 05 March 2010

Esfahan: Pro's Cafe coach Rabih Abou Chaaya felt his side fell asleep at crucial moments after they were held to a 3-3 draw by Port Authority of Thailand at the AFC Futsal Club Championship on Friday.

The Lebanese side had twice fallen behind but battled back on each occasion before snatching what appeared to be the winner with 20 seconds remaining when Khaled Takaji converted a penalty kick.

But Port Authority did not let their heads drop and snatched a point when Suchin Eamchalard equalised with seconds remaining.

“It was a tough game,” conceded player-coach Chaaya, who himself rattled the woodwork during a dominant second-half spell for Pro's Cafe.

“The Thai team are a very defensive side. They closed their areas and fought very well and were lucky. For us it was a game of bad luck.

“Our players also get anxious to win. They are not concentrating in the whole game and that has been our biggest problem since the start of the tournament.

“There were many changing points in the game and they all went against us. Futsal is a game of 40 minutes and you cannot sleep for one minute otherwise you lose. We fell asleep at the end today and we lost two points.”

Port Authority coach Udom Taveesuk admitted there was an element of luck in the result for his side but praised the way the players battled to the very end.

“This match was very, very close,” he said.

“It was a lucky result as we lost chances to win but then took the important chance when it was 3-2 and equalised with 10 seconds left.

“We never give up.”


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com