Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024:
Iran salvages Tahiti triumph to face host in knockouts
A thrilling comeback victory saw Iran defeat Tahiti 5-3 to finish atop the Group B table at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai and get a showdown with the host in an all-Asian quarterfinal.
The Iranian goalkeepers were the heroes of day for the country at the Dubai Design District Stadium on Monday, scoring three goals between them to inspire the fightback.
The Tahitians – two-time runners-up in the tournament – looked to be on their way to a repeat of the 2017 last-four win against the Asian champion when Tearii Labaste and Roonui Tinirauarii gave them a two-goal lead in the second period, before Hamid Behzadpour bagged a brace either side of a superb strike by fellow-Iranian keeper Mahdi Mirjalili.
A Teaonui Tehau’s own goal doubled Iran’s advantage but Patrick Tepa reduced the deficit to one, before Mohammad Mokhtari guaranteed a clean sweep of group victories for Ali Naderi’s men, taking his tally in Dubai to six with 90 seconds left on the clock.
“We knew before the game that there would be space for our goalkeepers to have a go at goal, given the way they play, and our coach encouraged us to do so,” Behzadpour said following his Player-of-the-Match performance, adding: “Iran is never finished. We will never, ever give up.”
Iran will be looking to celebrate a second victory over the United Arab Emirates in less than a year on Thursday to head into the semifinals for only the second time in the history of the competition.
Naderi’s men walked away with a commanding 7-2 triumph when the two sides met in the Asian Cup group phase in Thailand last March.
Following a goalless stalemate on Monday, the UAE came out on top against Italy in the shootout but still had to settle for the second spot behind the European powerhouse in Group A.