Thailand defeat Iran in AFC futsal cup semifinals

PRESSTV – DUBAI, Thailand has defeated the 10-time Asian winner Iran in the semifinals of the 2012 AFC Futsal Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

Thailand defeated Iran 5-4 in extra time on Wednesday.

Captain Vahid Shamsaee gave Iran the lead four minutes after the match and Hossein Tayyebi doubled the lead three minutes later. Suphawut Thueanklang scored one goal for Thailand in the first half.

Javad Asghari Moqaddam scored Iran’s third goal in the second half. However, Suphawut Thueanklang and Jirawat Sornwichian scored for the Thai team, extending the match into extra time.

Apiwat Chaemcharoen put Thailand ahead three minutes after the break. Captain Shamsaee leveled the match, but Suphawut Thueanklang scored his third goal and Thailand’s fifth goal just seconds before the final whistle.

Thailand will take on the winner of the Australia-Japan match in the final game.

The semifinal match secured Iran’s place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup which is slated to be held in Thailand later this year.