Iran beats host to finish runner-up in Thailand futsal tourney
Iran settled for a runner-up finish at the SAT Men’s Futsal Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, thanks to a 6-2 victory over the host on the final day of the four-team tournament.
Russia had routed Kwait 10-1 earlier on Saturday to secure the title with a clean sweep of three victories.
In a repeat of the final showpiece in last year’s Asian Cup, Sarawut Phalapruek put Thailand in front with 10 minutes into the game but Iran restored parity through Mohammad-Hossein Derakhshani seconds later, and then Hossein Sabzi and Hossein Tayyebi got on the scoresheet to steer the Asian powerhouse to a 3-1 lead at halftime.
Iranian keeper Saeid Momeni produced several fine saves to deny the host after the break before Mohammad-Hossein Bazyar extended the advantage for Vahid Shamsaei’s men in the 27th minute.
Iranian skipper Tayyebi, who went on to pick up the tournament’s best player prize, found the net from his own half for his second of the night three minutes later.
Ronachai Joongwongsuk reduced the deficit to three with two minutes left on the clock, before Amirhossein Gholami’s strike right at the death rounded off the victory for the 13-time Asian champion, which is preparing for the Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers in September.
Iran suffered a 2-1 loss to Russia on the opening day of the tournament but bounced back to defeat Kuwait 5-0 – courtesy of goals from Tayyebi and Sabzi, as well as Masoud Yousef, Mahdi Karimi, and Behrouz Azimi.