Sports > Football > IRAN IN 1/4 FINAL OF ASIAN FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY AFSHIN DASTAFSHAN
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Iran started their bid to win the ninth Asian Futsal (five-a-side indoor football) Championship with straight wins over Lebanon, Malaysia and China this week to top Group D and qualify for the quarter finals. The tournament is hosted by the current Asian champions Japan. Iran won the Asian Futsal Champion title for a record seven times between 1999 when the tournament started and 2005 before Japan put a stop to Iran’s dominance and lifted the trophy for the first time in 2006. Japan in Group A and Iran in Group D are the only sides with maximum 9 points from their group stage qualifiers in the 2007 campaign.
Futsal is a popular sport in Iran due to it’s similarity with GOALKOOCHIK played by kids on the streets.
Iran’s main challenge in the first round came in their first match against Lebanon, at one stage Lebanon were leading by one goal before Iran took control of the match to win 8-4. Malaysia were totally overwhelmed by the Persian power with Iran brushing Malaysia aside 15-1, in their third group stage match on May 15th Iran beat China 8-0 keeping a clean sheet for the first time in the tournament, Lebanon qualify for the quarter finals as Group D runners-up.
Iran will take on Group C runners-up Australia in the quarter finals on May 17th; the Persians are the favourites to beat the Futsalroos and progress to the semi-finals where they would meet the winner of Uzbekistan vs. Tajikistan from the other quarter final clash. Current Asian champions Japan are expected to beat Thailand in their quarter final clash and would meet the winner of Kyrgyzstan vs. Lebanon in the second semi-final; the semi-finals are played on May 18th followed by the final on May 19th.
Asian Futsal Quarter-finals
17th May 2007 – Uzbekistan vs. Tajikistan
@ 1700 local time, Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium
17th May 2007 - Iran vs. Australia
@ 1700 local time, Amagasaki City Commemoration Park Gymnasium
17th May 2007 - Japan vs. Thailand
@ 1900 local time, Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium
17th May 2007 – Kyrgyzstan vs. Lebanon
@ 1900 local time, Amagasaki City Commemoration Park Gymnasium
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