AFC Futsal Championship QF: Iran vs. Kyrgyzstan [Preview]

AFC – TASHKENT, Coach Mohammad Nazemalsharie has confirmed Iran will be without injured captain Mohammad Keshavarz for Wednesday’s AFC Futsal Championship quarter-final with Kyrgyzstan at Uzbekistan Stadium.

The 10-time winners qualified for the last eight in resounding fashion, scoring 26 and conceding just two, as Iran beat Jordan, China and Iraq to top Group B.

And with a place at the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia later this year up at stake, Nazemalsharie’s side will look to continue their form as 2014 runners-up Iran aim to continue their march towards a first AFC Futsal Championship title since 2010.

“The match against Kyrgyzstan will be hard-fought as both teams want to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Nazemalsharie.

“I expect it will be a fantastic game as Kyrgyzstan have grown up a lot by making to this stage in the tournament.

“They have good players who pass the ball well and play in sync with each other, so we must be ready for that.

“Keshavarz (pictured) is injured and he now needs to rest so he won’t be ready for the game. If we can make it to the next round maybe he’ll be OK to play again.”

Kyrgyzstan secured a return to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2007 having claimed second place in Group A following Sunday’s victory over Saudi Arabia having earlier draw with Lebanon and lost to hosts Uzbekistan.

“We knew that if we made it to the knockout stages there would be a good chance we would play Iran,” said coach Andrey Polkhovskiy, with Kyrgyzstan eyeing a first-ever semi-final appearance.

“They are favourites because the level of their game is so high; their players don’t give you time to think when you’re on the pitch. Individually they are very talented and creative so we know how difficult it will be and we need to try to stop them playing their normal game.

“But there is always a chance; if you play against them 500 times maybe you will get just one chance. They play futsal from another planet, but maybe this will be our one chance.”

Photo: AFC