BANGKOK, March 26 (Xinhua) — Iran thrashed three-time former champions Japan 6-0 within the 2023 AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup closing in Thailand’s Pattaya on Sunday.
Iran scored a spectacular opener when Movahed Mohammadpour collected an extended cross from keeper Seyedmahdi Mirjajili earlier than firing dwelling within the fourth minute.
Japan suffered one other setback within the eighth minute as Mirjajili scored once more, this time from Ali Mirshekari’s help.
Japan had no reply to Iran once they conceded once more within the twentieth minute after Movahed diverted Mirjajili’s throw to an unmarked Moslem Mesigar, who slammed the ball dwelling.
In the twenty ninth minute, Japan goalkeeper Shinya Shibamoto was dispossessed in his personal space by Mohammadali Mokhtari, who tapped dwelling the fourth into an empty aim.
Iran prolonged their lead within the thirty fifth minute due to an personal aim by Kosuke Matsuda, earlier than Mirshekari netted the ultimate aim with seconds remaining.
“I’m so happy. This is the result of our hard work over the past year. I should thank all the players for playing so well in this tournament,” mentioned Iran head coach Ali Naderi Hosseinabadi after the match.
Iran had completed unbeaten to prime Group B earlier than hammering Bahrain 11-0 within the quarterfinals and beating Oman 6-3 within the semifinals.
In the third-place playoff, Oman defeated the United Arab Emirates, becoming a member of Iran and Japan to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai this November.