Courtesy:
www.mehrnews.comFive-Star Iran Retains Asian Futsal Title By Kambakhsh KhalajiTEHRAN, April 25 (MNA) - Six Asian futsal editions mean six trophies for Iran, which again beat Japan in final -- this time in China Sunday.
The star-studded Iran handed the budding Nippon a 5-3 defeat in Macau to remain the continent's futsal lord.
Japan, which had lost to Iran in the past three finals and was seeking revenge left licking its wounds.
The almond-eyed players' dream seemed to come true as it took an early lead but Iran hit three to notch a first-half 3-1 win.
Mohammad Hashemzadeh leveled the match and Iran's second and third came by Kazem Mohammadi and skipper Mohammadreza Heidarian.
Hashemzadeh grabbed his own double and side's fourth after the restart and Lazio import Vahid Shamsaei added the fifth two minutes from the normal time.
Japan was not dead yet however as it reduced the arrears, finding the back of the net twice to restore some prestige in the last moments.
Shamsaei was again introduced 'Goalscorer of Asia' with 32 goals in the sixth edition.
MAIN THREAT
Playing in front of over 12,000 home fans in the Azadi hall, west of Tehran, Iran overcame the struggling Japan 8-4 in 2001 to retain the title for the third consecutive time.
Iran proved too strong for Japan in the fourth edition in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, winning the final 6-0.
Japan reduced the gap next year in Tehran as it lost 6-4 in a nail-biting final.
The hardworking Japanese side is now Iran's archrival and resumes training in the hope of outdoing the invincible Asian side.
NO STUTTERING
Iran opened title defense with Hong Kong 15-0 rout and extended its winning streak by thrashing Indonesia 13-3, drubbing Cambodia 24-1, taming Uzbekistan 8-1, and clobbering Kuwait 10-3.
Iran vaulted into the final of the sixth Asian Futsal Championships Saturday as it crushed the Thai side 6-1 in the semifinal.
The victory helped Iran book a berth in 2004 world event in Taiwan.
Taiwan will host the world futsal matches from November 21 to December 5.
Iran stood seventh in the latest world rankings released by the Futsal Committee of FIFA in early April.
