Iran defeats Senegal, to face Russia in Intercontinental Beach Cup final [VIDEO]
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 05: Tecnotree Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup Dubai 2021 at Kite Beach on November 05, 2021 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez / Quality Sport Images)
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Loading...Beachsoccer.com – DUBAI, World champions reach final number seven as Hosseini and Abdollahi bow out of international beach soccer.
The defending champions and the World Cup winners will compete in the final of the 2021 Tecnotree Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup tomorrow.
It will be the third time that the sides have faced each other in the final, and Iran has won both previous meetings.
Russia handily defeated Portugal to reach their seventh of the ten Intercontinental Cup finals, and Iran came from behind to defeat Senegal in a fiery semi-final match-up.
It was a bittersweet moment for the Iranians as two legends of beach soccer, Peyman Hosseini and captain Hassan Abdollahi, announced their retirement from international beach soccer.
Senegal 5-7 Iran
The debutants met the defending champions in the semi-final, and it was Iran who was quicker off the mark as Mokthari smashed home midway through the first period.
Newcomers to the Intercontinental Cup they may be, but the Lions of Teranga pounced into action, Diagne leading the charge with three first-period goals, stunning Iran before the whistle.
Raoul made it four in the second, but Mokthari and then Moradi – with a stunning mid-air volley – had the overwhelming Iranian crowd on their feet before long, cutting the score to 4-3.
Amir Akbari, who both won top scorer and broke his arm in the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup, struck with a minute of the second period left and straight from the restart, Mokthari completed his hat-trick with an impressive acrobatic finish to give Iran the lead!
Mirshekari made it 4-6 but Madione converted for Senegal with six minutes of the match left and it looked as if the African champions might find an equalizer.
But the final blow went to the three-time kings, as captain Ahmadzadeh netted with seconds on the clock to seal a fourth final, and a third against Russia.
It was the perfect send-off for Iranian talisman Peyman Hosseini and Hassan Abdollahi, who announced their retirement after the win against Senegal.
