Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup 2015: Tahiti 4-2 Iran [VIDEO]

Beach Soccer World – DUBAI, Tahiti diligent in handling Iran on opening day

The 4-2 victory for Tahiti over Iran was just how the Oceanic team planned. Well minus not getting a shut-out, of course. Coming into the match, both teams knew that goals would be hard to come by, nearly eight in every beach soccer match, because they have two stunningly talented goalies. Tahiti hit their stride first and basically never looked back. The game was filled with acrobatic saves and smart goalie play, which limited the offensive chances, but the goals that did come were textbook beach soccer goals; passing, bicycles kicks, no-look passes, and one-timers. Tahiti was steady in their offense and defense and they fought through a very competitive Iranian side to earn the points in their tough group. Tahiti will next face Mexico on Wednesday, looking to seize control of Group B. Iran will hope for a rebound and their first win on Wednesday, against Portugal.

Iran and Tahiti are both two of the best teams in the world and they have offensive strikers to prove it but more importantly, their goal stoppers are arguable the two best on the sand. Jo and Hosseini, of Tahiti and Iran, respectively, were able to keep the score even in the early going of the match, and not through soft saves, they were needed to make their signature tough stops. The Tahitian was eventually able to break through, just past the midway point in the frame but they were not finished there as they tacked on another, to take a 2-0 lead into the second period. The defenses maintained a strong influence on the match, with the score sitting at 2-0 going into the final minutes of the middle frame, but that is when the Tiki Toa found pay dirt again. The goal from Bennett was brilliantly orchestrated as the Tahitians used aerial passing and ball control to move down the field, which was capitalized by their captain with an overhead kick that would be tough for a literal wall to have stopped. Tahiti confidently headed into the final break, up by a score of 3-0.

Three goals nothing to come back from in beach soccer and Iran set out to prove that. The Lions of the Atlas scored first in the closing period and cut the lead to 3-1, while also eliminating Jo’s shot at his first shut-out in the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup Dubai. The consolation for the Tahitian goalkeeper was that his teammates had is back, so to speak, and scored quickly to maintain the three goal advantage. Iran made things interesting late when they added another goal to get back to within two goals, but the Tahitian National Selection was not easily rattled and they were able to settle into a safe defense and hold on for the 4-2 win.

Goals: 1-0: Taiarui, min. 5 (1); 2-0: Labaste, min. 3 (1); 3-0: Bennett, min. 4 (2); 3-1: M. Ahmadzadeh, min. 11 (3); 4-1: Bennett, min. 10 (3); 4-2: M. Ahmadzadeh, min. 1 (3).