Iran wins world deaf futsal title
Iran lifted the men’s trophy in the World Deaf Futsal Championships in Sao Paolo, Brazil, thanks to a shootout victory over Sweden.
Alireza Mokhtar-Abadi was on the scoresheet for Iran as the two sides settled for a 1-1 draw before heading into the shootout.
Goalkeeper Mahdi Karam-Ali delivered a heroic performance by denying three Swedish efforts, while Mokhtar-Abadi, Esmaeil Dejeh, and Ali-Akbar Ahmadvand converted from the spot as Iran won the title in the fifth edition of the tournament.
Having beaten the Czech Republic 7-0 in the quarterfinals, Iran demolished Thailand 9-1 – courtesy of Ali Zeinalvand’s hat-trick, Mokhtar-Abadi’s double, as well as strikes by Karam-Ali, Mostafa Heidari, Amir-Hossein Abdollahi, and Mohammad Jahangiri – for a place in the final showpiece.
Japan defeated Thailand 3-2 to finish on the third podium.