UZB 3-8 IRN: Imperious Iran retain title

AFC – TASHKENT, Iran scored five unanswered goals in the second half to retain the AFC Futsal Championship title after beating hosts Uzbekistan 8-3 at Uzbekistan Sports Complex on Sunday.

Masoud Daneshvar, Ali Asghar and Majid Raeisi each scored twice for Hossein Shams’ Iran, who claimed a 10th title after winning all six games in Tashkent scoring 57 goals and conceding just nine.

Nodir Elibaev scored in each half for Uzbekistan after Dilshod Irsaliev had given the hosts a second-minute lead and hope of a maiden AFC Futsal Championship title, but Iran scored five unanswered goals in the second half to force Sergio Sapo’s side to settle for a third runners-up finish since 2001.

Uzbekistan took a surprise second-minute lead through Irsaliev and held a 2-1 advantage after five minutes with Elibaev adding a second for the hosts before substitute Javad Asgharimoghaddam found a response for Iran.

But after Raeisi equalised for Iran after 12 minutes, Mohammad Taheri handed the defending champions the lead for the first time a minute before the break.

Elibaev pulled the hosts back on level terms just two minutes after the break only for Daneshvar’s first of the night to regain the lead for Iran just a minute later.

Raeisi doubled the advantage two minutes later before Asghar scored twice in three minutes to put Iran four goals ahead with 12 minutes remaining.

And Daneshvar’s second four minutes later sealed the win as Iran, whose only failure to win the AFC Futsal Championship title over the last decade came in the 2006 edition in Uzbekistan, eased to victory.