CAFA Women’s Futsal Championship:
Iranian girls beat Turkmenistan to close in on title
Iranian girls eased to a third successive victory at the CAFA Women’s Futsal Championship, beating Turkmenistan 5-1 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Friday.
Maral Torkaman bagged a hat-trick, with Zahra Kianimanesh and Roqayeh Some’eh also on the scoresheet as Iran sat atop the tournament’s table with nine points.
Kamila Mingazova scored Turkmenistan’s sole goal in the second half.
Three-time defending champion Iran began its title defense in the tournament – featuring five Central Asian sides – with a 9-0 rout of Uzbekistan and then thrashed the Kyrgyz Republic 10-0 on Wednesday.
The final round of fixtures will see Iran take on the host at the Dushanbe Indoor Hall today, with Uzbekistan – second in the table with six points – facing the Kyrgyz Republic.
The event is part of the Iranian girls’ preparation for May’s AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, which will resume after a seven-year hiatus in China.
Chasing a third successive title in as many editions, Forouzan Soleimani’s side will begin its campaign with a game against the Philippines on May 7, before squaring off against Vietnam and Hong Kong in Group B.
The top three of the 12-team tournament will punch their tickets for the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup – starting November 21 in the Philippines.