Iran defeats Malaysia 4-2 at AFC Women’s Futsal Championship

AFC – NILAI, Iran will take on Thailand while Malaysia face the daunting prospect of top seeds Japan in the semi-finals of the 2015 AFC Women’s Futsal Championship as the West Asians defeated the tournament hosts 4-2 as an entertaining group phase of the inaugural tournament came to an end on Wednesday.

With both sides having picked up wins against Hong Kong and Uzbekistan, the fourth and final match of Wednesday’s action would determine the top two places in Group A and who they would face in Friday’s final-four showdown with undefeated Japan finishing first in Group B following their convincing 7-1 over China, a result that confirmed Thailand’s 2-1 defeat of Vietnam was enough to seal second place for the Southeast Asians.

Fahimeh Zarei opened the scoring in the first minute and the Iranians held the lead for a good quarter-of-an-hour when Farahiyah Ridzuan drew the Malaysians level from the penalty spot, with Iran skipper Nasimeh Gholami unluckily sent off after Usliza Usman’s powerful shot cannoned off the frame of the goal and hit her hand as she charged into the area to clear the danger.

Iran recovered from the setback and after the interval Sepideh Zarrinrad’s 23rd minute effort made it 2-1 before Fereshteh Karimi doubled her side’s advantage with goals in the 27th and 29th minutes.

In an attempt to find a way back into the tie, Malaysia coach Chiew Chun Yong employed the power play and while the attacking tactic returned only one goal of the three they needed to go level with the Iranians it did result in Farahiyah Ridzuan going clear at the top of the scoring charts, with the 21-year-old’s 39th minute consolation for the hosts taking her personal tally to seven, two more the the Iranian duo of Fereshteh Karimi and Sara Shirbeigi.

Forouzan Soleimani (Iran coach)

We had a very good start but our players became too confident afterwards and this cost us the equaliser. We managed to control our game in the second half although we had moments were we lost our concentration and this is something we need to improve. I want to congratulate the Malaysian team as well. I can see a lot of improvement from them.”