Courtesy: -> The AFC.com


Iran eliminate Uzbeks to set up chance to reclaim crown

18 May 2007

OSAKA: It wasn’t quite as effortless as some had anticipated, but Iran have once again emphasised their class with a comfortable 7-3 semi final win over Uzbekistan to earn themselves a shot at reclaiming the AFC Futsal Championship title.

The result was well established by the break – two goals form Mohammad Taheri and one each to Javad Asgharimoghaddam and Ahmad Pari Azar saw Iran lead 4-2 at half time, before Mohammad Keshavarz Nasrabadi, Pari Arar again and Vahid Shamsaee completed the scoring in the second half.

For Uzbekistan , Abdulla Buriev’s rich goal scoring form was added to in just the second minute, before Hurshid Tajibaev and Farruh Zakirov contributed to Uzbekistan ’s most fruitful return against Iran since 2000.

While the four-goal margin was one of Iran’s slightest in recent years – only paralleled by Lebanon on the opening day of this tournament and better by Thailand and Kyrgyzstan last year, the eventual result was never in question.

Uzbekistan started promisingly, even claiming the lead with the first goal of the match, but was ultimately unable to sustain their intensity against an Iran side that is yet to be seriously tested at these Championships.

Though Uzbekistan did pose a threat on the counter attack, particularly with striker Buriev in rich goal scoring form, Iran’s movements at the other end were every bit as graceful as Asian futsal fans have come to expect.

Led by captain Mohammad Reza Heidarian, Iran accounted for any of their marginal defensive deficiencies by way of sheer clinical precision when going forward.

Significantly, prolific marksman Shamsaee contributed just one goal to the seven-goal tally – a ratio far less than Iran have become accustomed since the inauguration of the Championships and a telling sign that this Iran line up can boast depth far beyond their marquee man.

“Unlike our previous loss against Iraq , this was a game that we lost against a team from a different class,” said Uzbekistan assistant coach Pavel Bezglyadnov.

“It’s obvious that Iran is a very good team, they have a very good captain and I feel that the final will be a very interesting match.”

Uzbekistan’s performance, which ebbed and flowed throughout, was exemplary of their character at these Championships.

An opening day loss to qualifiers Iraq was responded to with a crucial victory of rare quality over highly-fancied Thailand .

The Uzbek’s performances ranged from scintillating to borderline narcoleptic, and none of their three victories, other than that against the in-form Thai’s, were entirely convincing.

In total contradiction, from day one Iran have looked a side fixated on reclaiming a mantle that was theirs for so long.

“We started preparations for this tournament eight months ago, with a new coach and a new strategy, as we didn’t like the system that we had,” said Iran coach Hossein Shams.

“This year, we are playing with a different style according to the players that we have and the opposition we are facing.

“ Uzbekistan is a very good team and they were playing very advanced futsal, and that’s why we played the tactics that we did today. I assure you, tomorrow, you will be seeing another tactic.”





Courtesy: -> The AFC.com


Asia’s big guns set for re-match after tense decider

18 May 2007

OSAKA: Japan has survived a fierce challenge from Kyrgyzstan to secure their place in the showpiece match of the AFC Futsal Championship 2007, triumphing 1-0 at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium tonight.

Takuya Suzumura is the toast of the host nation – his innocuous twelfth minute toe poke all that separated the two sides at the final whistle.

In what was a near repeat of the 2005 Championships semi final in Vietnam, where Japan defeated Kyrgyzstan 4-3, the biggest and most vocal crowd of this tournament was treated to a magnificent, monumental and melodramatic match up fitting for such an occasion.

An invincible side for much of this tournament, Japan were mere mortals this evening against a Kyrgyzstan team certainly not overawed by the occasion and arguably the more dominant side in terms of possession and chances throughout the match.

Where Japan was most productive, however, was where it counted – the score board.

After weathering all that Kyrgyzstan could muster over forty minutes, the reigning champions could celebrate their sixth consecutive Championships final appearance.

“It was very physically trying, we did have more chances during the first half but we weren’t able to capitalise, but we won which is the important thing,” said Japan coach Sapo after the match.

“I told my players during half time to keep their concentration and be careful, because we were only one goal up.

“Thankfully, we won after what was a very frantic game and we want to win tomorrow because our goal is to be number one.”

The match winning goal did not arrive until the second quarter of the match – the longest the hosts have had to wait to score their opening goal these Championships.

What was ultimately a moment of such importance was not one of any visual appeal.

Suzumura’s strike, his sixth of the tournament, was taken from the touch line and barely had enough momentum to trickle across the goal line; such was the indistinctive nature of the match winner.

Kyrgyzstan’s response to Suzumura’s goal was, indeed, a righteous one.

In outstanding ball playing talent Andrei Pestryakov and tall timber Marat Duvanaev, the Kyrgyz were a constant threat going forward, while leading the charge from the back was diminutive playmaker Ulan Ryskulov.

Appropriately, Japan treated their opponents with suitable respect.

Leading personnel Kenichiro Kogure, Daisuke Ono and Suzumura each enjoyed a far greater slice of game time than what they had been afforded against some of the tournaments lesser lights in previous days, while coach Sapo’s raw emotion on the sidelines at the final whistle was somewhat out of character for the usually tranquil Brazilian tactician.

Certainly, had Japan captain Kenta Fujii not cleared off his goal line in the 22nd minute and goalkeeper Hisamitsu Kawahara not produced a stunning save with just three minutes remaining, it could have been a vastly different story for Sapo’s charges.

“It was basically just as we expected, as Japan is one of the most balanced, highly skilled and best teams in the world,” said Kyrgyzstan coach Nurtazin Djetybaev.

“When we conceded the goal, we thought we could recover, but that’s obviously not what happened.

“Japan’s offence was very aggressive and we just didn’t have the capabilities to win.

“Of course, I’m not satisfied with the outcome, but I’m very satisfied with the performance of my players.”

Japan’s victory sets up a dream finale against traditional rivals IR Iran at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium tomorrow.

After two consecutive semi-final exits, Kyrgyzstan have the chance to earn their first ever podium finish at the Championships when they take on central Asian rivals Uzbekistan in the curtain-raiser to final.



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