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The AFC.comThailand 2-9 ChinaThursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: Midfielder Zhang Xi struck a hat-trick as China qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 with a surprise 9-2 win over Thailand on Thursday.
Wang Wei and Liang Shuang also scored twice to again end Thailand's hopes of a first AFC Futsal Championship title in 11 attempts as China advanced to Friday's semi-finals.
Thailand are regarded as one of Asia's strongest futsal sides, but coach Jose Mandez had been unhappy with the mistakes made in the 5-2 win over Vietnam on Tuesday despite the victory securing top spot in Group C with a 100% record.
Zhang opened the scoring at Uzbekistan Sports Complex after just two minutes only for Suphawut Thueanklang to equalise for Thailand six minutes later.
China, though, hit back a minute later through Zhang and substitute Wang before striker Zhang Xiao struck three minutes before half-time to open up a three goal cushion for the Group D runners-up at the break.
Panuwat Janta gave Mandez's Thailand, who scored 19 goals in their three wins over Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and Korea Republic in the group stage, hope of a comeback eight minutes into the second half.
But Liang restored the three goal advantage two minutes later before a quick double from Li Xin and Zhang three minutes later gave China the initiative in the closing stages.
And Wang and Liang each added second goals in the final 10 minutes to seal the emphatic victory for Guilherme Da Silveira's China, who only secured their place in the last eight after holding on to secure a 7-6 victory over Iraq in Tuesday's final game in Group D.
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The AFC.comChina coach stunned as Thais turned overThursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: China's 9-2 win over Thailand in the quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 left coach jubilant coach Guilherme Da Silveira stunned.
Midfielder Zhang Xi struck a hat-trick, while Wang Wei and Liang Shuang each scored twice as China sent home the Group C winners.
"Before the game I assumed the outcome of the match would be decided in the final minutes. But we managed to demoralise our opponents thanks to quick counter-attacks, which fortunately proved to be very effective," said Da Silveira.
"Nevertheless, the outcome of the game was very surprising but at the
time same a welcoming development."
Thailand were level at 1-1 after nine minutes Suphawut Thueanklang quickly cancelled out Zhang Xi's opener.
But Zhang and substitute Wang responded with a quick-fire double for the Group D runners-up before Zhang Xiao opened up a three goal lead at the break.
Panuwat Janta pulled one back for Thailand eight minutes after the break, but a second-half brace from Liang and further goals from Li Xin, Zhang and Wang ensured a place in the semi-finals.
Opposite number Jose Mendez, meanwhile, was left to count the cost of an error-strewn performance as Thailand, who had won Group C with a 100% record, extended their wait to win the AFC Futsal Championship title to 11 attempts.
"In the first minutes of the match we played well. After losing the ball we were able to win it back, but the opponents scored two goals very quickly," said Mendez.
"China raised their game to win but our mistakes and tactical action have denied us a place in the next stage."
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The AFC.comJapan 4-0 Kyrgyzstan Thursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: Japan scored twice in each half to ease into the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 after beating Kyrgyzstan 4-0 at Uzbekistan Sports Complex on Thursday.
Yusuke Komiyama and Mitsuyoshi Matsumiya scored in the first half for the Group D winners before Tetsuya Murakami and Shota Hoshi sealed a fourth consecutive win after the break.
Japan will face Iran on day for a place in the final after China earlier surprised Thailand 9-2 to reach the semi-finals courtesy of a hat-trick from midfielder Zhang Xi.
Kyrgyzstan had only scrapped into the last eight as runners-up in Group C with one victory after a 4-4 draw against winless Korea Republic in the final group game on Tuesday secured a place in the quarter-finals after Thailand beat Vietnam.
And coach Amirzhan Mukanov knew Kyrgyzstan faced a tough task against
Japan despite Miguel Rodrigo's side only managing to beat Turkmenistan 1-0 in their final Group D game.
Kyrgyzstan held out for eight minutes before Komiyama opened the scoring, with fellow substitute Matsumiya doubling the advantage four minutes from the interval.
Murakami added a third with seven minutes remaining before substitute Hoshi sealed the win in the last minute.
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The AFC.comHard work still ahead warns RodrigoThursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: Coach Miguel Rodrigo has warned Japan the hard work is still to come after reaching the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 with a hard-fought 4-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in Thursday's quarter-final.
Japan had been held to a 1-0 win by a resilient Turkmenistan in Tuesday's final Group D outing and found Group C runners-up Kyrgyzstan equally hard to break down.
"First and foremost, I would like to congratulate our opponents for a good game. I am sure that the futsal team of Kyrgyzstan have a bright future," said Rodrigo.
"We played a nice, safe and smart game. But we cannot rest and rejoice. We still have some very hard games to come if we are to win the tournament and they will be against some of the strongest teams in Asia."
Yusuke Komiyama finally opened the scoring at Uzbekistan Sports Complex after eight minutes before Mitsuyoshi Matsumiya added a second four minutes before the break.
The third finally arrived through Tetsuya Murakami with seven minutes remaining before substitute Shota Hoshi sealed the win in the last minute.
Despite exiting at the quarter-final stage, Kyrgyzstan coach Amirzhan Mukanov hopes the determined display is the shape of things to come.
"Japan is one of the best teams of the Asian continent. Therefore, I believe we are at that level as well," said Mukanov.
"Despite losing, we had our moments. Unfortunately they did not result in goals.
"We have gained tremendous experience from the match that we will need and can use in the upcoming tournaments."
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The AFC.comUzbekistan 5-3 AustraliaThursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: Hosts Uzbekistan reached the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal
Championship after seeing off Australia 5-3 at Uzbekistan Sports Complex on Thursday.
The scores were level at 1-1 at the break, but Group A winners Uzbekistan crucially scored three goals in eight second-half minutes to deny the Futsalroos a first-ever appearance in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship.
Artur Yunusov finally broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time for Uzbekistan only for Tobias Seeto to net in the last minute of the first half to pull Group B runners-up Australia level.
Shervin Keshavarz-Adel completed the turnaround for Steven Knight's Australia four minutes into the second half but the lead lasted just two minutes as Makhsud Fayzullaev quickly hit back for Sergio Sapo's Uzbekistan.
Dilshod Irsaliev regained the lead for the hosts a minute later beforeUzbekistan, who are hoping to reach the final for the first time since 2006 and for only the third time in their history, established a two-goal cushion with seven minutes remaining as Yunusov added a second of the contest.
Greg Giovenali trimmed the lead to one two minutes later, but Konstantin Sviridov struck with four minutes remaining to finally extinguish Australia's hopes of another fight back and seal Uzbekistan's place in the last four with a fourth consecutive victory.
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The AFC.comSapo loves it when a plan comes togetherThursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: Uzbekistan coach Sergio Sapo revelled in a perfectly executed plan after the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 hosts reached the semi-finals with a 5-3 win over Australia on Thursday.
Roared on by a substantial crowd at Uzbekistan Sports Complex, Group A winners Uzbekistan scored three goals in eight second-half minutes through Makhsud Fayzullaev, Dilshod Irsaliev and Artur Yunusov to establish a match-winning lead and secure a place in Friday's semi-finals.
“We had a day off before the game and we were able to discuss all the details of the match against Australia and also look at the mistakes from the previous matches,” said Sapo.
“Our mood was also at the highest level. We have shown the beautiful game, which I hope our fans enjoyed.”
Steven Knight's Australia had equalised in the last minute of the first half as Tobias Seeto cancelled out Yunusov's 18th minute opener.
Shervin Keshavarz-Adel then put Group B runners-up Australia ahead four minutes into the second half, but that kick-started Uzbekistan's second-half revival as Fayzullaev set the ball rolling just two minutes later.
Greg Giovenali gave Australia hope of a reaching a first AFC Futsal Championship semi-final only for Konstantin Sviridov to add the hosts' fifth with four minutes remaining to keep Uzbekistan on course for a for the first final since 2006 and third in their history.
“We played to the limits of our capabilities in Tashkent and reaching the quarter-finals is an excellent result for our team,” said Knight.
“The deciding factor which stopped us from advancing to the semi-finals was a simple lack of experience and lack of skill.
“For us, beating Uzbekistan was almost impossible. With such support from the stands it will be difficult for any of the remaining teams to beat Uzbekistan."
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The AFC.comIran 7-1 LebanonThursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: Iran's seemingly unstoppable march towards the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 title continued as the defending champions eased to a 7-1 win over Lebanon in Thursday's quarter-final at Uzbekistan Sports Complex.
Masoud Daneshvar scored twice as Group B winners Iran took their goal tally to 42 in just four games to remain on course for a 10th Asian title after comfortably securing a place in Friday's semi-finals.
Mohammad Keshavarz Nasrabadi, Mohammad Hashemzadeh, Mostafa Tayyebi, Mohammadreza Zahmatkesh and Mohammad Taheri were also on target for Hossein Shams' Iran, while Hassan Chaito's first-half strike, which briefly pulled Lebanon back to 2-1, proved the only consolation for the Group A runners-up.
With Shams promising there was still more to come from the world's fifth ranked side despite winning Group B with a 100% record after conceding just five goals, Iran took a quick two-goal lead through Nasrabadi and Hashemzadeh.
Substitute Chaito found a response for Lebanon after 11 minutes only for Daneshvar's first, two minutes later, to restore the two-goal cushion before Tayyebi added to the lead six minutes before the break.
Daneshvar's second four minutes after half-time continued Iran's domination before Zahmatkesh increased the lead after 27 minutes.
And with six minutes remaining Taheri wrapped up Iran's fourth consecutive win to again end Lebanon's campaign in the last eight following a 9-1 win at the same stage two years ago.
Courtesy:
The AFC.comShams: Early pressure prompted changesThursday, 27 May 2010Tashkent: Iran did not have it all their own way in Thursday's AFC Futsal Championship 2010 quarter-final with Lebanon according to relieved coach Hossein Shams despite the defending champions marching into the semi-finals with a 7-1 win at Uzbekistan Sports Complex.
Lebanon frustrated the nine time champions in the first half with Hassan Chaito's 11th minute strike giving Dory's Zakhour's side hope after Mohammad Keshavarz Nasrabadi and Mohammad Hashemzadeh had put Iran seemingly in control.
But goals from Masoud Daneshvar and Mostafa Tayyebi handed Iran a three-goal cushion at the break before Mohammadreza Zahmatkesh, Daneshvar and Mohammad Taheri secured a fourth consecutive win for the Group B winners and a place in Friday's semi-finals.
“At the start of the match Lebanon were able to pressure us and this created a lot of difficulties for us. We had to change our tactics and look at our approach to the game,” said Shams.
“Thankfully, we have succeeded as shown by the result.”
Lebanon coach Zakhour was delighted with the start from the Group A runners-up A, but conceded his side were no match for Iran, who also beat Lebanon at the same stage two years ago.
“We were able to reach the quarter-finals and that is a good result for a team who only had 20 days to prepare for the Asian championships," he said.
“Iran are future champions, fighting with them is impossible. We started very well, but we ended up suffering a big defeat.
“The main reason for our defeat is that we lack physical strength which is very important in futsal.”
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luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
