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The AFC.comFive star Thais through to semis 15 May 2008BANGKOK – Thailand edged through to the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship with a 5-2 victory over Australia at Nimibutr Stadium.
The hosts were in front throughout after Eakapong Suratsawang scored twice in the first seven minutes and they went on to seal a last-four match against China and qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil later this year.
Australia were without captain Lachlan Wright and Christopher Zeballos through supension, while Ukrit Taengtung was banned for the hosts, who had won all three of their preliminary round matches.
Jose Maria Parzos Mendez feared Australia's physicality prior to the match but his Thailand side swiftly eased his concerns.
Eakapong scored a quickfire double to put Thailand in the ascendancy.
Fernando Lima de Moraes pulled one back for Australia after 14 minutes but Thailand reclaimed their two-goal advantage shortly before half-time.
Panomkorn Saisorn netted after 17 minutes to give the hosts, who were backed by a vociferous support, a 3-1 lead.
Australia tightened up in the second half and held Thailand at bay before Ekkaphan Suratsawang was dismissed for a second yellow card with 15 minutes remaining.
Scott Gilligan's side pulled a goal back three minutes later when De Moraes scored his second of the game, tucking in from a tight angle.
But Thailand captain Panuwat Janta eased the pressure on his side, scoring from close range with five minutes remaining.
Gilligan was forced to resort to power-play tactics but Australia could not take advantage of the extra player in attack and Panomkorn dispossessed the last defender before walking the ball into the net for his second and Thailand's fifth.
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The AFC.comChina stun Uzbeks 15 May 2008BANGKOK - China upset the form book with a stunning 4-1 victory over Uzbekistan at Hua Mark Stadium and make it through to the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships.
Farinha's side broke the deadlock just before half-time before two late goals sealed the result and a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup later in the year.
An evenly-contested opening period saw few clear cut chances for either side.
Wang Wei went close for China with a left-footed strike that flew just over and Zhang Xiao saw a chance smothered by Uzbekistan keeper Rustam Umarov.
Farruh Farhutdinov then had a sight of goal but slipped and allowed China keeper Zheng Tao to scramble the ball away.
And China took the lead seconds before the interval when Liu Xinyi managed to turn in the area before poking the ball past Umarov.
Liu wriggled free once again at the start of the second period but his shot was well blocked by Umarov and the Uzbekistan keeper was called into action once again as the ball broke to Liang Shuang after Liu's run.
Uzbekistan came close to equalising when Ilhom Yusupdjanov's free-kick through a crowd of players fell to Gulomjon Mamdjonov but he hit the outside of the post from a tight angle.
But it was China who doubled their lead when Wu Zhuoxi intercepted a pass, strode forward and despatched a low right-footed strike that went in via the post.
Uzbekistan reduced the deficit with just over three minutes remaining as Alexander Petrov decided to pull his keeper and the extra man paid dividends as Nikolay Odushev crossed for Hurshid Tajibaev to score.
But Li Xin put the result beyond doubt with one minute ten seconds on the clock as he stormed down the right before slotting the ball under Umarov.
Bahodir Ahmedov then saw red for a deliberate handball when on in place of Umarov and Liang smashed home the resultant free-kick to send China into the last four.
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The AFC.comImperious Iran cruise into quarters 15 May 2008BANGKOK - Iran ominously booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships with a 9-1 thrashing of hapless Lebanon.
Mohammed Taheri grabbed a brace in a one-sided contest as Hossein Shams' side made short work of a Lebanon side that were just happy to have made the quarter-finals
Mohammad Taheri got the ball rolling for Iran with a smart finish at the near post before Lebanon keeper Rabie El Kakhi pulled off an excellent save to deny Mohammad Hashemzadeh.
However, Hashemzadeh doubled his side's lead shortly afterwards when a fierce right-foot strike found the back of the net via the post.
It soon became three as Kazem Mohammadi broke clear down the left before drilling a finish underneath the diving El Kakhi
Vahid Shamsaee then got in on the act when he smashed the fourth goal into the roof of the net before he and Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh produced a neat interchange that saw the latter rattle the post.
Iran continued where they left off in the second-half as Hassanzadeh was on hand at the back post to convert Mohammad Keshavaraz's driven pass.
Taheri then grabbed his second when he collected skipper Mohammad Reza Heidarian's pass on the right and blasted it into the net before Hayssam Atwi hit the post for Lebanon with a deflected shot.
Majid Latifi made it 7-0 with a low drive before Mostafa Tayyebi scored when he cut in from the right wing, rounded El Kakhi and slotted home.
Abbas Fadlallah netted a consolation for Lebanon after Iran keeper Mostafa Nazari had spilled the ball but Iran had the final say as Majid Raesi crashed home their ninth goal.
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The AFC.comMendez marvels at Thai progress 15 May 2008BANGKOK – Jose Maria Pazos Mendez expressed his delight after Thailand progressed to the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship with a 5-2 defeat of Australia.
Eakapong Suratsawang and Panomkorn Saisorn each scored twice as the hosts booked their ticket to the last four, earning a place at the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year in the process.
And Mendez admitted his satisfaction at the result after just two months in the coaching hotseat - but the Spaniard warned against complacency with China next up in the last four.
“For me it's very, very important to reach the World Cup because I only arrived here two months ago,” said Mendez.
“We have had a very short time to change many things with the players because the Thai mentality is very different to the Spanish mentality.
“We worked very, very hard.”
Thailand's route to the semi-finals saw them pitted against Iraq, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Australia – and overcoming that opposition has pleased Mendez greatly.
“We are very happy because we've not had an easy way,” he said.
“But China will not be easy – all semi-final teams are very good.”
Mendez had sympathy for Australia, who were without captain Lachlan Wright and Christopher Zeballos – the duo were suspended for the quarter-final match.
“Australia showed they are a very, very good team – it's a shame there is not a place at the World Cup for both teams,” Mendez added.
“They showed today they are very strong and they were without two of their best players.”
The future for Australia coach Scott Gilligan is uncertain after the loss.
Gilligan believes Football Federation Australia may even relieve him of his position.
“I have been given a position with Oceania but I don't know if the FFA will even retain me at this stage – I can't answer that question,” he said.
“Obviously not going to the World Cup is very disappointing and that's the issue.”
Gilligan was adamant the absences of Wright and Zeballos were the main contributing factors to the loss.
“I think the turning point was the game before when we had two suspended players,” he added.
“Both were the two leading goal scorers in the team for this tournament and it was pretty obvious that that was going to affect us.”
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The AFC.comEmotional Farinha ‘lost for words’ 15 May 2008BANGKOK - An emotional Farinha admitted he was lost for words after seeing China pull off a 4-1 victory over Uzbekistan at Hua Mark Stadium to set-up a clash with Thailand in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships.
Liu Xinyi put China in front just before half-time and Wu Zhuoxi doubled the advantage and although Hurshid Tajibaev briefly gave Uzbekistan hope, further goals from Li Xin and Liang Shuang sent them into the last four, where they will meet the hosts after their 5-2 triumph over Australia.
The result means they also secured a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil later in the year, an achievement that left Farinha almost speechless.
"We've just qualified for the World Cup, it's difficult to say anything especially having beaten a big team like Uzbekistan," he said.
"I knew this game would be a very, very difficult game because the opponent was very strong but it's difficult to say things now.
"I just want to thank all the players because they have worked very hard twice a day for four months in a row and in the beginning they didn't believe me that they could do it.
"Little-by-little they started to believe and I think all of them are wonderful players and they really did a good job. For us it's unbelievable, it's a dream, so it's difficult to say more than that.
"Uzbekistan are a wonderful team and they have lots of options but my team is based on team-work. We don't have one star that can decide a game like perhaps other teams," he added.
"Team-work is what makes the difference in my team, I believe, and China did very well because of that. I will not pick out one name because there's no player like that."
Farinha's joy was in stark contrast to the mood of Uzbekistan coach Alexander Petrov.
When asked what was the most disappointing aspect of his team's performance, Petrov replied: "Discipline.
"We expected to go to the World Championship. We've been in the semi-finals in the last four championships so of course we expected to go to the semi-finals.
But we didn't play as well as China did."
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The AFC.comJapan outline title credentials 15 May 2008BANGKOK – Japan confirmed their billing as one of the favourites for the AFC Futsal Championship title with a 4-0 semi-final victory over Kyrgyzstan at Nimibutr Stadium.
The 2006 champions – Japan are the only team other than Iran to lift the trophy since its inception in 1999 – clinched a place at the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year, but will now be determined to lift a second title.
In a tight first-half tussle, Kyrgyzstan struggled to test Japan goalkeeper Yosuke Komiyama.
Japan were also forced to bide their time in a bid to find a route through the resilient Kyrgyzstan defence but one arrived after a time out from coach Sergio Sapo three minutes before the interval.
Daisuke Ono swivelled on the edge of the area after a pre-planned set-piece and his shot beat Nikolay Shamonin at the near post.
Japan doubled their lead 35 seconds before half-time.
Captain Kenta Fujii put in a probing cross from the right which the hapless Marat Duvanaev could only divert into his own net.
Kyrgyzstan continued to be repelled by Japan's press in a cagey opening to the second half.
Daniar Abdyraimov was then deployed as an extra man as Kyrgyzstan switched to power-play with 12 minutes remaining.
Mihail Sundeev struck the post but Kyrgyzstan could not find a way through.
And, after absorbing the pressure, it was Japan who struck next when Kenichiro Kogure threaded the ball beyond Shamonin.
Kyrgyzstan continued to press forward but Yuki Kanayama fired into an empty net from midway inside his own half for Japan's fourth to secure the victory.
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The AFC.comShams sees Lebanon’s potential 15 May 2008BANGKOK - Iran coach Hossein Shams insisted Lebanon will prove to be a force to be reckoned with in future editions of the AFC Futsal Championships despite seeing his side demolish them 9-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2008 tournament.
Mohammed Taheri notched a brace, while Mohammad Hashemzadeh, Kazem Mohammadi, Vahid Shamsaee, Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh, Majid Latifi, Mostafa Tayyebi and Abbas Fadlallaha all got on the score sheet in a one-sided contest at Hua Mark Stadium.
Iran now meet Japan in the last four in a repeat of last year's final as well as booking a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil, but Shams had words of consolation for his vanquished opponents.
"I think there is a bright future for Lebanon because they are a very good team and have very good coach and next time they could maybe go to the semi-finals or perhaps the final," he said.
"I think Lebanon were very tired because they arrived late to Thailand and could not prepare as they wanted to so they did not have much chance. Every year we play Lebanon in the group stages or the quarter-finals and I am sorry we give them this problem."
Lebanon coach Dory Zakhour admitted his side had been comprehensively outclassed.
"Iran are the best team and nobody can beat them," he said.
"I want to congratulate Iran. We have come up against the best team in Asia.
I'm very proud of my team because the best teams in Asia look on my team as a good team and as I've said before, my team is not very prepared.
However, Zakhour also predicted better things for Lebanon in tournaments to come.
"We'll have to see next time because we'll work very hard on the development of futsal in our country. And next time will hopefully be a more peaceful build-up," he said.
And with tongue firmly in cheek he added: "Our chances at every championship are ended by Iran. I hope they don't play in the next competition."
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The AFC.comSapo sets sights on Iran 15 May 2008BANGKOK – Sergio Sapo is adamant Japan are ready to reclaim the AFC Futsal Championship title following the 4-0 quarter-final triumph over Krygyzstan.
The 2006 champions are the only team to take the trophy out of Iran, who provide the opposition in Friday's semi-final.
Sapo admitted his delight at securing qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, but he now focused on victory over Team Melli.
“I'm very happy at this time,” he said.
“I'm very proud of the team and I'm very happy that we showed how well we can play.
“We are very satisfied to make it to the World Cup but we are here to be champions.”
Iran's 9-1 defeat of Lebanon set up a meeting between the tournament's top two seeds, but Sapo is confident.
“We are not afraid of Iran,” he added.
Sapo believes his team are improving all the time, with the last-eight fixture providing the proof as last year, Japan could only defeat Krygyzstan 1-0.
“We are getting stronger, even in just one year,” he said. “Today's result against Krygyzstan showed it.”
Krygyzstan coach Nurtazin Djetybaev believes the result could have been different if his side had scored first.
But Djetybaev said his side were vulnerable after going behind as they had to attack.
“From the very beginning, I think that the game was equal, but when Japan scored the first goal we had to attack and it opened up our defence,” he said.
“Our team was very prepared for this game but the Japanese team had very good instructions from their coach and their tactics were good.
“But if we had scored first, the game would have been different.”
Djetybaev was bitterly disappointed at failing at the final hurdle in the bid for a World Cup berth but will not be making any rash decisions.
“Our course our aim was to be in the final stage in Brazil,” he said.
“Now we have to cool down, to think about our future.
“We don't have to rush now – we have four years.”
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The AFC.comPressure off China says Farinha 16 May 2008BANGKOK - China coach Farinha believes his side can now afford to relax when they take on Thailand in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships at Nimibutr Stadium on Friday.
A 4-1 upset over Uzbekistan at Hua Mark Stadium sealed China's passage into the last four and set-up an intriuguing clash with the hosts.
But having also secured a berth in the FIFA Futsal World Cup, Farinha admitted his side are now going to enjoy themselves for the remainder of the tournament.
"From now on we're just going to have fun," he said.
"I believe Thailand are the favourites because it's their country and they have a very strong team.
"Our objective was to reach the World Cup and we've done that. Of course we will do our best but it's difficult to say what I expect.
"I respect Thailand very much, China has never beaten Thailand they are a wonderful team and I think it will be a beautiful game. As for myself, I just want to enjoy this moment of qualifying for the World Cup and congratulate the players."
Farinha also stressed that China's success this week in Bangkok is a result of more self-belief within his squad.
"Little by little I tried to convince the players that they were good players, that they just needed to learn more about futsal tactics," he added.
"We finished fourth at the Asian Indoor Games so at that time they started to believe that we could do something.
"Then came the KL 5s in Malaysia and we only faced big teams so that was a very important step for us.
"We've been together for almost 50 days now and they have worked very, very hard as a team every day, twice a day, and they were very tired after the training sessions. "It's based on the fact they believed they could do it step by step."
Thailand coach Jose Maria Parzos Mendez certainly was not underestimating their semi-final opponents despite seeing his side overcome Australia 5-2 in their quarter-final clash.
"China got to the semi final because they're a good team," he said.
"They beat Uzbekistan 4-1 which means they are a very difficult team. A very skilful team.
"Our team is very, very tired because we have had three very close games against Iraq, Kyrgyzstan and Australia.
"Now we are very tired and if people think that playing China will be easy, it's a big mistake.
"At this stage of the tournament, all the teams are very difficult, all the players are very tired. China are a good team and no one should think that China are easy opponents."
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The AFC.comWe don’t fear Iran insists Sapo 16 May 2008BANGKOK - Japan coach Sergio Sapo insisted his side will not be overawed when they face Iran in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships at Nimibutr Stadium on Friday.
An impressive 4-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan on Thursday booked their place in the last four and with it a ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil later on this year.
Iran have proved the tournament's dominant force in the tournament to date, a 9-1 quarter-final rout of Lebanon the latest in a long line of beatings handed out by the defending champions to a string of hapless opponents.
But Sapo believes his Japan side, the only team other than Iran to lift the AFC Futsal trophy in nine editions of the competition, will not freeze on the big occasion.
"It is going to be a difficult game against Iran, but we're not afraid of them," he said.
"We've been training for a long time and we are here not only to go to the World Cup but to be the champions."
Japan will be looking to avenge their defeat on home turf in last year's final and while Sapo admitted that will prove a difficult task, he will attempt to outfox opposite number Hossein Shams.
"I don't have any idea how to beat them," he said.
"We'll watch the video of their game and I will analyse and take time to do that.
"Basically, we'll play the same way as today. The details will come out of the analysis."
Sapo is also hopeful star striker Kenichiro Kogure can recapture the form that saw him named the 2006 AFC Futsal Player of the Year.
"In the last two matches he did not play to his usual high standard," he added.
"He started on the bench (against Kyrgyzstan) and it gives him motivation to prove himself."
Shams, on the other hand, is confident Iran can repeat the dose of 12 months ago but did hint at a possible tactical switch for the clash.
"We have beaten Japan before and hopefully we can do it again and go to the final. Japan are a very good team but I think Iran are better," he said.
"We will change our tactics, and maybe also some corner and free-kicks. I think Friday and in the final, if we get there, we will change some things."
Having also booked their passage to the Futsal World Cup, Shams also believes Iran can make an impact on the world stage in Brazil.
"I think if we prepare well before the World Cup, we can reach the semi-finals," he added.
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