Courtesy:
The AFC.comIran banking on youth: AFC Futsal Championship21 May 2006 TASHKENT: Iran’s quest for a record eighth AFC Futsal Championship title will be driven by a pack of youngsters, as the Asian futsal kingpins look to rebuild in strength for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Championship.
As the tournament gets underway today here in the picturesque capital of Uzbekistan, Iran is once again, as it has been for the last seven years, the team to beat in the 16-team event. But the going got tough for an ageing Team Melli in the last edition in Vietnam and they managed to cling on to their title only by a whisker, with determined opposition coming from eventual runners-up Japan and ASEAN powerhouse Thailand, who thoroughly exposed the champions’ weaknesses.
At the pre-tournament press conference, Iranian head of delegation Mohamed Deroudgar spoke about the power of youth. “This time we have a very young team,” said Deroudgar. “After the 2004 edition itself we decided to introduce young players and today we have three key players in the 18-20 age group. We also have highly experienced players like Vahid Shamsaee and Mohsin Zarei. It is a good mix.”
“We aim to defend our title and then prepare for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Championship.”
But first the Iranians, who are coached by Jurandir Dutra, need to finish on top of Group D against tough opposition, some of which is familiar from the last time round, like the Thais, who handed out to Team Melli their first ever draw in the history of the tournament since 1999.
If Iran are banking on a mix of old and new, then, Japan, who have played bridesmaids to them no less than four times in the finals, have stuck to the tried-and-tested. Japan’s head of delegation Kuniya Daini said: “We have come here to win the title and there are not many changes to our squad (from the one which played in Vietnam). We lost in the final four times in a row but this time our team has prepared well and we are confident that we will lift the title.”
Japan earned the distinction of becoming the first team to ever beat Iran in the AFC Futsal Championship last year in the group stage, which left the champions stunned and teetering on the brink before receiving a helping hand from their archrivals themselves who ousted Thailand in the knockout stage. Had Japan then drawn with Thailand, Iran would have been out of the tournament.
This time, Team Melli and Japan are on a collision course much earlier than the final if both play to form. The players to watch in coach Sapo’s list are Kenichiro Kogure and Takuya Suzumura, who are both capable of turning around a match singlehandedly.
The two ‘Stans’ - Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – had signaled their coming of age in Vietnam after storming into the semifinals and Kyrgyzstan had come close to upsetting Japan before losing narrowly. Uzbekistan are favourites to advance to the last four this time, having been slotted in an easy group but Kyrgyzstan will have to see off the likes of Australia and Lebanon for a repeat of last year’s semifinal run.
Kyrgyzstan’s head of delegation Almaz Kadyrkulov said: “We have prepared for this tournament throughout the year and our minimum aim is to qualify for the semifinals.”
Uzbekistan coach Pavel Donchenko captured it in a nutshell: “Every team has a dream. I hope our dream will come true.”
Newcomers Australia impressed in the qualifiers and are in the most open group of the tournament in which, apart from Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Kuwait could also prove to be difficult customers.
Six matches will be played everyday from 12 noon to 2100 hours through May 21-24 in the single round robin league with the four top points earners advancing to the semifinals scheduled for May 26 (1600-2000 hours).
The third-fourth place playoff between the semifinal losers (1600-1800 hours) precedes the final (1800-2000 hours) on May 27.
Japan, Thailand and Australia will be in action on the opening day at the 3000-seater Yunusabad Sports Complex.
Courtesy:
The AFC.comJapan crush Hong Kong, Tajikistan beat Iraq21 May 2006 TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Kenichiro Kogure and Goshi Koyama fired three goals apiece as last year’s losing finalists Japan cruised to a 12-0 victory over hapless Hong Kong in their opening Group B encounter of the AFC Futsal Championship here on Sunday at the Yunusabad Sports Complex.
Tajikistan saw off a tough challenge from Iraq 4-2 in the other group encounter.
Japan were in complete control against their East Asian rivals and dictated terms imperiously. There never was any doubt about who the winner would be after Kenta Fuji opened the scoring for the Japanese in the second minute and Hong Kong goalkeeper Wai Heung Cheung was left picking the ball out of his net 11 more times.
Rigarudo Hika (18) doubled the advantage before Kogure (18) and Akira Toyoshima (20) ensured that the four-time consecutive finalists went out for the breather 4-0 ahead.
After the restart, the clinical dismantling continued. Only the pace had quickened. Takuya Suzumura (24, 28), Kogure (26, 40), Koyama (29, 31, 38) and Kensuki Takahashi (36) indulged in the goalfest.
Japan’s Brazilian coach Sergio Sapo was happy with his team’s defensive tactics. “We defended extremely well and I am happy with the result,” said the Brazilian, who was at the helm when Japan lost to Iran in the previous edition’s final.
His Hong Kong counterpart Tsang Wai Chung drew the positives from the heavy defeat. “We managed to keep the scoreline intact 0-1 almost upto the end of the first half. The second Japanese goal demoralised us and we started making mistakes.”
Tajikistan, the other group victors on the opening day, fell behind in the eighth minute to Amer Khalaf’s sliced goal but Khurshed Makhmudov, a Tajikistan national football team player drafted in by coach Damir Kamaletdinov, equalised a minute later. Sherzod Jumaev made it 2-1 for Tajikistan on 11 minutes and teammate Dilshod Vasiev added one more a minute later.
Wameth Kamel pulled one back for Iraq a minute before the break but Makhmudov brought his experience in the bigger version of the game to bear on his rivals to close out the match 4-2 for Tajikistan in the 27th minute.
Tajik coach Kamaletdinov gave full points to his men. “We were nervous and my players were worried. In these circumstance it was a good win to have. Our best games lie ahead.”
Tomorrow’s matches see Japan clashing with Iraq while Hong Kong will be trying to pick up the pieces against Tajikistan.
Courtesy:
The AFC.comBusiness as usual for Iran, Thailand tame Indonesia 21 May 2006TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Iran embarked on their campaign for a record eighth consecutive AFC Futsal Championship title with a predictable 14-0 demolition of Turkmenistan in Group D on Sunday at the Yunusabad Sports Complex here.
Also off to a winning start in the same group were Thailand, who defeated fellow ASEAN rivals Indonesia 8-4.
For Team Melli, veterans Vahid Shamsaee (five goals on 6, 16, 24, 33, 34 minutes) and Mohamed Hashemzadeh (three goals on 5, 22 and 38 minutes) were the destroyers-in-chief as the seven-time reigning champions proved superior in every department of the game over their overawed Central Asian rivals.
While Shamsaee and Hashemzadeh accounted for eight goals between themselves, Majid Latifi (36 and 37) and Kazem Tirabadi (14 and 19) netted a brace, and Ali Navligh (32) and Maged Raise (13) added one each.
Turkmenistan held on for the first five minutes before Hashemzadeh’s goal opened the floodgates. The traffic was one-way for the rest of the match as Iran ran over their opponents mercilessly in the hot conditions.
Iran coach Jurandir Dutra pointed out the difference from the Team Melli of previous editions. “As you know, our team has been rejuvenated with the inclusion of young players,” said Dutra. “Now our average age is 24 years but that does not mean our aim of winning the title again has changed or is in doubt.”
”The AFC Futsal Championship is our stepping stone to the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Championship.”
Turkmenistan coach Eldar Ramazanov was understandably upset. “We played as well as we could. The difference is that Turkmenistan doesn’t have professional futsal players. Nevertheless, we will try to play our remaining matches better".
In the other match, Thailand were made to work hard by the Indonesians as the two renewed their ASEAN rivalry on the continental level. The Indonesians kept themselves in with a chance with some inspired goalscoring throughout the match and Thailand struggled to tame them.
Pattaya Piemkum opened the scoring in the very first minute for the Thais and added three more on 3, 13 and 39 minutes. Peimkum’s teammates Joe Nueangkord, who scored twice (5 and 17), Prasert Innui (6) and Sermphan Khumthinkaew (23) also entered the scoresheet.
The Indonesian goals were fired by Andri Irawan (5), Deny Handoyo (19), Sayan Karmadi (27) and Jaelani Ladjanabi (35).
Thailand’s Brazilian coach Glaucio was scathing about his players’ opening performance. “We played badly and made too many mistakes. Our key players were injured but that is no excuse. We should forget this match as soon as possible and get on.”
Iran next play Indonesia and Thailand go up against Turkmenistan tomorrow.
Courtesy:
The AFC.comKyrgyzstan drub Australia, Lebanon rally to draw with Kuwait 22 May 2006TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Kyrgyzstan spoiled Australia’s debut in the AFC Futsal Championship by mowing down the AFC newcomers 5-1 in a keenly awaited Group C encounter here at the Yunusabad Sports Complex on Sunday even as Lebanon overcame a four-goal deficit to hold Kuwait 5-5 in an intense battle of West Asian teams.
In the first match, Kyrgyzstan, who have been improving with each passing year, were wary at first against their rivals but settled in quickly and, capitalising on Australia’s utter lack of coordination, turned the match into a one-sided affair.
So thorough was the Central Asian team’s domination that the only goal Australia got against their name was a gift - an own goal by Galimzan Ullu in the last minute of regular time.
”Before the match we were a bit nervous because they are a new side and it was our first match,” said Kyrgyz coach Nurtazin Djetybaev.
But the nerves were soothed after Marat Duvanev opened Kyrgyzstan’s account in the fifth minute. Jenish Mamatov then scored two goals (12, 13) and this combined with Daniar Abdyraimov’s 15th minute effort enabled Djetybaev’s side to cruise into the break with a four-goal cushion.
After the interval, the Kyrgyz strangely seemed to lose motivation. Vadim Cherevin did add one more goal to the tally but the team, which gave Japan a run for their money in the semifinals last year, seemed to have gone off the boil.
”I am not at all satisfied with our performance in the second half,” said the Kyrgyz coach. “We should have scored more goals.”
Australia coach Scott Gilligan admitted they were outplayed. “Kyrgyzstan were deserving winners. The last time our team gathered was for the FIFA World Futsal Championship in 2004. That was 18 months back. Naturally, the absence of mutual understanding affected our game,” said Gilligan. “Now that we have joined the AFC we will get more opportunities of playing.”
In the other group match, Lebanon succeeded in salvaging a point, thanks to some brilliant goalkeeping by substitute custodian Saarkis Askadjian who saved a double penalty in the dying minutes. It was a game of two halves as Kuwait imposed themselves on Lebanon in the first period only to find the tables turned by their inspired rivals in the second.
In the first half, Kuwait could do no wrong as Hamad Al Othman fired them into the lead in the fifth minute and Ahmed Al Asfour added two (8, 19) for a lead of 3-0 at half time. Al Asfour netted his hat-trick three minutes into the restart.
Then Lebanon started their blitz with Hayssam Atwi pulling one back in the 23rd minute. Khaled Takaji further reduced the arrears with a brace (24, 26) and Mahmoud Itani’s quickfire double (27, 31) saw Lebanon open a one-goal lead.
However, Al Othman’s clever goal three minutes before time saw Kuwait pulling level and some aggressive play towards the end also saw two penalties being awarded to them. But Saarkis, who replaced the injured Rabie Al Kakhi in the first half, anticipated and parried both the shots for Lebanon to walk away with a well-deserved point.
Lebanon coach Dory Zakhour said his players’ never-say-die attitude made the draw possible. “This goes to show that a margin of 3-0 doesn’t guarantee victory in futsal. Anything is possible in this game and this is what I told my players.”
Kuwait coach Eisa Saadoun said his team almost paid the price for being complacent. “I asked my players not to relax but they didn’t listen to me. We were close to losing. Now we have to win all the remaining matches and this will put us under pressure.”
Australia play Kuwait and Lebanon lock horns with Kyrgyzstan in tomorrow’s matches in this group.
Courtesy:
Bangkok PostThai triumphTOR CHITTINANDThailand's national futsal (five-a-side) team defeated Indonesia 8-4 in their opening match at the eighth AFC Futsal Championship at Yunusabad Sports Complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan yesterday.
Despite their victory the Thai team's Brazilian coach Glaucio de Castro was not happy with the perforamnce.
"We were terrible," he said "We made far too many mistakes."
When the teams had met earlier this month Thailand won 10-3.
In yesterday's match, Pattaya Piemkum led the scoring with four goals.
Also on target for Thailand were Joe Nuenkerd, Prasert Innui, Anucha Muncharern and Sermphan Kumtinkaew
For the match with Turkmenistan both Somkid Chuenta and Anucha are out because of injury.
In the other match in the same group, reigning champions Iran thrashed Turkmenistan 14-0.
Posted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
