Courtesy: The AFC.com


Thailand 5-4 Iran (aet)

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Dubai: Suphawut Thueanklang scored in the last 30 seconds of extra-time as Thailand overcame the loss of two early goals to defeat ten-time champions Iran 5-4 and book their place in Friday’s AFC Futsal Championship UAE 2012 final.

Asian futsal icon Vahid Shamsaee opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Hossein Tayebi doubled the advantage three minutes later as the threat of a one-sided semi-final loomed.

However, Thailand, runners-up on home soil in 2008 when they lost 4-0 to Iran, hit back almost immediately through Suphawut Thueanklang as the first-half ended 2-1.

Javad Ashgharimoghaddam made it 3-1 with 11 minutes remaining before a Suphawut penalty and a Jirawat Sornwichian effort soon after sent the thrilling semi-final into extra-time.

Apiwat Chaemcharoen gave the Thais a 4-3 lead in extra-time but in an dramatic end to the absorbing contest Shamsaee equalised before Suphawut sealed the win after missing a penalty seconds earlier.

The defending champions took the lead with four minutes played when Mohammad Kesharav threaded a pass to Vahid Shamsaee in the Thailand goal are where the Iran captain spun and expertly slipped the ball past his Thailand counterpart Surapong Tompa.

Surapong was beaten again three minutes later when Kritsada Wongkaeo didn’t get close enough to Hossein Tayebi who fired an angled drive past the Thai keeper for Iran’s second.

Kritsada made amends three minutes later when his corner was swept home Suphawut Thueanklang as the ASEAN champions got themselves back into the contest.

Hamid Ahmadi’s barge into Suphawut on the touchline brought about Iran’s fifth foul and the danger of a ten meter penalty for the Thais should they transgress again in the remaining four minutes of the first period but the Iranians kept their composure and the half ended 2-1 in favour of the ten-time champions.

Iran made it 3-1 in the 30th minute when Javad Ashgharimoghaddam stole possession from Jetsada Chudech to start a three-against-one attack and as Ahmadi attempted to cut the ball across the area it hit off the heels of the backtracking Sarawut Jaipech and fortuitously into the path of Ashgharimoghaddam, who completed the move he started.

But again Iran’s two-goal cushion was short-lived, with Mahdi Javid blocking Konghla Lakka’s net-bound effort with his hand a minute later allowing Suphawut to emphatically convert the resultant penalty.

With eight minutes left to play the spirited Thais drew level when Jirawat Sornwichian slid in at the far post to convert Sarawut’s inch-perfect cross.

The equaliser rattled the Iranians and the frenetic end to the match saw chances for both sides which neither side were able to convert as the semi-final went into extra-time.

Three minutes into the first period Thailand took the lead when Jetsada rolled the ball back to Apiwat Chaemcharoen whose angled drive beat Nazari and turned the tie in the Thais favour.

Iran employed the power play in the second period but the Thais defend valiantly, cheering every successful block, tackle, until with one minute 14 seconds remaining Shamsaee showed all his experience to back-heel in the equaliser.

Jetsada had a chance to seal it with a penalty but his kick was saved by Nazari but the drama hadn’t ended there and in the dying seconds Suphawut drilled the ball home to seal a remarkable victory for the Thais.





Courtesy: The AFC.com


Japan 3-0 Australia

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Dubai: Japan reached the final of the AFC Futsal Championship for the seventh time with a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Australia in the second of Wednesday’s UAE 2012 semi-finals.

The amateur Aussies gave a sterling account of themselves but in the end Japan’s experience told as the 2006 champions ran out winners courtesy of second-half goals from skipper Kenichiro Kogure, Wataru Kitihara and Rafael Henmi.

Japan’s victory set up a final showdown with Thailand, who overcame an early 2-0 deficit to defeat defending champions Iran 5-4 after extra-time to ensure there will be a name other the Iran on the AFC Futsal Championship for only the second time in the tournament’s history.

Wednesday’s second semi-final lacked the excitement and intensity of the first as Japan, the only other winner of the competition, had the Futsalroos on the back-foot for the majority of a goalless first-half.

Australia’s gritty resistance was finally broken with just under 12 minutes left on the clock when Rafael Henmi arrowed the ball to an unmarked Kenichiro Kogure and the Japan skipper easily converted from close range.

Four minutes later Japan doubled their lead when Wataru Kitihara powered home after being perfectly teed up by Nobuya Osodo’s backheel.

Australia employed the power play in the remaining minutes as the Futsalroos fought to try and get a foothold in the semi-final but the introduction of Tobias Seeto as an extra attacker backfired as Henmi cooly struck the ball into the unguarded net to maintain his record of scoring in every game in Dubai and seal Japan’s 3-0 win.




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