Futsal: Iran 7-0 Japan

AFC – TASHKENT, Javad Asgharimoghaddam scored a hat-trick as defending champions Iran marched into the final of the AFC Futsal Championship 2010 with a 7-0 victory over Japan at Uzbekistan Sports Complex on Friday.

Hossein Shams’ side have only failed to win the tournament once in the last decade and they certainly appear as though they will take some stopping following a dominant performance over 2006 champions Japan, who prior to the game had only conceded twice in four matches.

Iran must now prepare for Sunday’s final against hosts Uzbekistan, who earlier beat China 4-3, and the game undoubtedly promises to be an enthralling encounter.

Masoud Daneshvar got the ball rolling in this match with a goal inside the first minute before adding a second 11 minutes later.

But that proved to be the last goal of the first half with neither side able to find a way past the opposing goalkeeper.

Iran though, once again highlighted their credentials as tournament favourites with Mostafa Tayyebi grabbing a third for his side in the 21st minute before Asgharimoghaddam got his first of the night three minutes later.

Asgharimoghaddam scored again in the 27th minute and then put the game beyond the Japanese when he completed his hat-trick with nine minutes remaining.

Mohammad Keshavarz Nasrabadi wrapped up the scoring for Iran in the 35th minute to complete a miserable evening for Japan.

Iran’s showdown with Uzbekistan will be the first time the two sides have met in the final of the tournament since 2001, when the former eased to a 9-0 victory.