Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Doha: Iran recovered from 6-3 down to beat defending champions Japan on penalty shootouts in the Asian Beach Soccer Championship 2013 registering a berth in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013.
Having assured a place in the world’s event before playing the final, both sides had a cracking final which ended 6-6 in the regulation and added extra time as the match went into the sudden death penalties.
The players of both the sides converted first nine penalties but Iranian goalie Hosseini Largani stopped a spot kick from Takeshi to foil Japan’s determinations to defend the title.
In an important third-place play off played to fill the remaining slot for the World Cup, the United Arab Emirates defeated Australia 3-2.
A total of 16 Asian nations competed in the five-day qualifiers held at the Katara Beach in Doha. The finals to be participated by Iran, Japan and the UAE from Asia will be played in Tahiti from 18 to 28 September.