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The AFC.comJapan set up semifinal clash against archrivals Iran24 May 2006 TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Kenichiro Kogure was in outstanding form as Japan outclassed Tajikistan 11-6 and stormed into the semifinals of the AFC Futsal Championship on Wednesday, setting the stage for yet another grand showdown against archrivals and seven-time champions Iran.
Japan have played – and lost – to Iran in the last four consecutive finals of the AFC Futsal Championship, starting in 2002 (Indonesia). The East Asian powerhouse, however, have been steadily improving and this is reflected in the shrinking margin of their defeats over the years. Last year, Iran did master Japan (2-0) for their record seventh title in a row but only after a titanic struggle.
And if the confident manner in which coach Sapo’s men have gone about dismantling opposition in the group stage – particularly the tricky Tajiks - is any indication, another close tussle can be expected on May 26 in the second semifinal.
Kogure gave yet more proof today that he is the man Team Melli would have to mark closely after grabbing six of the 11 goals scored by his team. It is not so much the number of goals but the stylish and opportunistic manner in which they have been scored which make the 27-year-old a star of the mini-version of the game.
Odil Irgashev (4) and Khurshed Makhmudov (9), both Tajik national football team players trying their hand at the indoor version of the game – and successfully at that - put their side two goals ahead in the first 10 minutes, making the most of Japan’s slow start at the Yunusabad Sports Complex.
A minute later Japan had restored parity through Takuya Suzumura (11) and Yusuke Komiyama (13) and the juggernaut started rolling with disastrous consequences for their rivals. Kenichiro (13, 15, 19, 26, 28, 39) was the main destroyer while Suzumura (35), Yoshifumi Maeda (18), Daisuke Ono (35) also made their presence felt with individual contributions. For the losers, Irgashev fired his brace on 16 minutes and Makhmudov scored a hat-trick (35, 37) but this was not enough to stop their purposeful rivals.
”We started slowly and also conceded two goals but after we scored we were back in the game,” said Japan coach Sapo. “We will work hard to improve for the semifinals.”
In the other group match, Hong Kong defeated Iraq 6-2, courtesy goals from Kwan Yee Lo (14), Quankun Liu (14, 36)), Kin Fung Cheung (24), Hang Wui Li (27) and Chi Kui Leung (38).
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The AFC.comKyrgyzstan beat Kuwait, Australia tame Lebanon 24 May 2006TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: First half goals from Jenish Mamatov and Andrei Pestryakov were enough for Kyrgyzstan to beat Kuwait 2-0 in an inconsequential Group C match even as Australia fought hard to tame Lebanon 6-4 in the AFC Futsal Championship on Wednesday.
Kyrgyzstan, who have already qualified for the semifinals from the group, were fired into the lead late into the first half by Mamatov (17) and Pestryakov (19) added another to it.
Assured of their place in the last four on Tuesday itself, Kyrgyzstan coach Nurtazin Djetybaev rested his first team players and fielded the reserves. He was disappointed as the newlook team looked in control of the match but came up short in front of goal time and again. It was left to the regulars Mamatov and Pestryakov to find the goals after coming off the bench.
The Kyrgyz defended for the next 20 minutes to make it three wins out of three.
As expected, Kyrgyz coach Djetybaev expressed his dissatisfaction with the younger players who got a taste of top-quality action today. “We gave a chance to some of our young players but I am not satisfied with their performance.”
“But we achieved our aim of winning the match,” added Djetybaev.
For Kuwaiti coach Issa Sadoun, this was their best match of the tournament. “Three of our players are injured, two are suspended. We played to the best of our ability despite such odds and this is our best performance.”
With only the group topper advancing to the last four, Australia’s poor debut against Kyrgyzstan on the opening day in which they lost 5-1 put paid to their chances of advancing further and it was clear in the following matches that the AFC newcomers were playing for their pride.
Against Lebanon, Australia were put into the lead by Lachlan Wright (5) and goals from Miles Downie (9), Scott Manson (13), Luke Haydon (16) gave them a first half cushion of 4-2 after Abbas Fadallah (10) and Hayssam Atwi (18) pulled two back at the opposite end.
After the restart, Christopher Zeballos (30) and Manson (40) again added two more to ride over a late Lebanese fightback which saw goals from Ahmad Daher (32) and Khaled Takaji (38).
Australian coach Scott Gilligan said: “We came to Tashkent with the semifinals in our mind but we didn’t achieve it. Overall, I am satisfied with the result. I think we won today because we had enough players to rotate.”
His counterpart Dory Zakhour said that for first-timers in the AFC Futsal Championship, Australia had given a good account of themselves. “I would like to congratulate Australia for today’s win. This is their first appearance in this tournament and I must say they have played well.”
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The AFC.comUzbekistan beat China 4-1 to reach last four25 May 2006TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Hosts Uzbekistan stood firm to see off a determined Chinese challenge 4-1 and set up an all-Stan semifinal against neighbours Kyrgyzstan in the AFC Futsal Championship on Wednesday.
Malaysia edged Chinese Taipei 5-4 in the other inconsequential Group A encounter here.
A crowd of more 1500 fans thronged the Yunusabad Sports Complex to cheer the home team as they locked horns with China in the make-or-break encounter. With both sides tied on six points, losing the final group match was not an option available for either team, and the fierce manner in which they contested for the top spot in the group made it an edge-of-the-seat thriller.
Underdogs China fought every inch of the way against their fancied rivals, something not reflected by the scoreline.
Umid Holmatov kicked off the proceedings with his fourth minute goal to a roar from the stands but this was all either side would manage for the next 20 minutes or so. The Chinese defence closed ranks firmly and frustrated Uzbekistan’s attempts to build up on the momentum.
The capacity crowd was able to witness the next goal only on 32 minutes, this time by China’s Xin Li. Abdulla Buriev (33) responded almost immediately and the humdinger continued for six more minutes when Nikolay Odushev (39) made it 3-1. Buriev sank China with another goal a minute before the final whistle and sealed Uzbekistan’s spot against familiar opposition in the last four.
Uzbek coach Shavkat Abduraimov said his men were taken aback by their rivals’ powerful game. “They surprised us. I didn’t expect them to be so powerful. In the first half we were concerned and concentrated on our defence.”
”I should say we were lucky to make the semifinals as China didn’t convert many chances,” added Abduraimov.
”Uzbekistan was the strongest team in our group and we have played against them several times,” said China coach Zhicheng Zhang. “Today we played really well but they played better. That was the difference.”
When asked to rate the Kyrgyz as semifinal opponents, Abduraimov said: “They are a good team, they have good players but we have to win.”
With familiar, physical styles of play, the semifinal between the Stans on May 26, promises to be an absorbing affair. Uzbekistan’s best performance in the tournament dates back to 2001 when they reached the final only to lose heavily to Iran 9-0. The following two years saw the Central Asians suffer a slump before bouncing back in 2004 when they put up a fight of lion-hearted proportions against the Japanese in the semifinals before losing 4-2. In the 2005 edition, they made the last four only to come up against Team Melli and lose 4-1.
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IriffShamsaee picked best player of preliminary Veteran Iran futsal hit-man vahid Shamsaei is selected as the best player of the first round of the AFC Futsal Championship which is under way in Uzbekistan. The 30-year old is also hunting for the top scorer title already in his hands with 15 goals.
Iran tops Group D with three wins in a row, hoping to clinch a record eighth consecutive AFC Futsal Championship crown.
"We had to change out strategy after the first Thai goal,” said Iran’s coach Jurandir Dutra after the match against Thailand. “The players were also nervous in the first half and made many mistakes.”
”But we have the kind of players who can decide the outcome of a match. If you ask me, the championship has started only today for us!”
Iran meet the toppers of Group B Japan in the second semifinal on May 26. Only Japan have defeated Iran in the seven-year-long history of the tournament.
Japan have played – and lost – to Iran in the last four consecutive finals of the AFC Futsal Championship, starting in 2002 (Indonesia). The East Asian powerhouse, however, have been steadily improving and this is reflected in the shrinking margin of their defeats over the years. Last year, Iran did master Japan (2-0) for their record seventh title in a row but only after a titanic struggle.
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