Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Terengganu: Islamic Republic of Iran cruised to their second win in Group A of the 2017 AFC Beach Soccer Championship after beating Afghanistan 6-1 in Kuala Terengganu on Monday.
Iran talisman Farid Boulokbashi, who scored four goals in the 14-0 drubbing of Malaysia the day before, drew first blood on seven minutes but Raof Qaderi equalised shortly after.
Seyed Ali Nazem then made a soft nudge of the ball into goal during a melee to score Iran’s second before the game went into the second period.
Boulokbashi then registered his second in the match to take it to 3-1 for his side before Moslem Mesigar struck Iran's fourth a minute later.
Mohammadali Mokhtari then had an opportunity to extend the lead when he smartly caught the ball with his chest and volleyed, but only for the keeper to beat as it went above the post.
Iran squandered another chance when Boulokbashi missed a penalty after keeper Shabab Alavi fouled him in the area before the second period ended.
Afghanistan’s Qaderi then hit the woodwork a minute after the restart before Iranian captain Mohammad Ahmadzadeh missed his penalty awarded after Afghanistan skipper Zainuddin Sharifi booked a red card for a hard tackle.
Iran finally found their goal in the third period with hotshot Boulokbashi’s number three in the game, his seventh in the tournament, before Hassan Abdollahi converted his free-kick to help the 2013 champions leapfrog Afghanistan to the top of their group.
The top three finishers at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship will represent Asia at the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Nassau, Bahamas from April 27 to May 7.
Photo: AFC