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Team Melli U20 Futsal reaches Semi-Final

Bangkok: Ali Arani’s Islamic Republic of Iran team sealed a 6-2 victory over Lebanon at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium on Monday to secure their semi-final place at the AFC U-20 Futsal Championship 2017.

Hussein Albaba gave Lebanon the lead in the fourth minute, prompting an immediate response from Iran through Omid Khani. Further goals from Hamzeh Kadkhoda, captain Touhid Lotfi and a Lebanon own-goal just before the break gave Iran a comfortable 4-1 lead heading into half-time.

Mohammad Taheri eventually added to Iran’s tally in the second-half, but Lebanon continued to press hard to try to find a way back into the game and were rewarded when Steve Koukezian received a neat back-heel to slot past the Iran keeper. But the Iranians responded immediately with a headed goal from Lotfi, his second of the game, making it 6-2 with five minutes remaining.

  • Iran set to meet Thailand in the semi-finals on Wednesday, May 24

Islamic Republic of Iran: KHANI 5’, KADKHODA 9’, ALBABA ‘19 (OG), LOTFI 15’, TAHERI 29’, LOTFI 35’ Lebanon: ALBABA 4’, KOUKEZIAN 34’ ​

Iran defeats Costa Rica in FIFA U-20 World Cup

 
  • Iran pick up their first win at the FIFA U-20 World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1977
  • A tight encounter of few chances decided by solitary goal
  • A low left-footed strike from Iran's No9 undid Costa Rica

Mohammad Mehdi Mehdikhani secured an opening win for Iran as his late goal saw off Costa Rica 1-0 in FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 Group C.

Despite Iran’s fairly well-established FIFA World Cup™ pedigree, having appeared at three in the last 20 years, this was only their third ever outing at U-20 level – and the first of those came in the inaugural tournament. Because of that, you could forgive them for being a tad ring-rusty. In truth though, Costa Rica were not much sharper.

Both struggled to fashion opportunities in a tepid first half. Iran began the brighter of the pair, looking to utilise a distinct height advantage. As time wore on, Costa Rica’s stronger possession game saw them begin to dictate the pace of the match, though a sloppy final ball undermined their chance of fashioning any clear openings.

The pattern continued until the latter stages where Iran first came close from an audacious Omid Norafkan corner, clipping the top of the bar, before the deadlock was broken with nine minutes to go. Unmarked at the far post, Mehdikhani chested down and fired low into the bottom left corner to snatch three points from what looked like a certain stalemate.

It took Iran 40 years to register its only 2nd win in the FIFA Youth World Cup, now known as the FIFA U-21 World Cup.  Despite a few good moves , Costa Rica did not manage a single shot on goal in the match, while the Iranians did shoot on target  although none were effective except for the Mehdikhani goal late in the game. After Iran scored,  the habitual problem of Iranian football was evident in their game.  Iranian teams from club level all the way to Team Melli , have problems controlling the games when ahead , or as it is commonly know, putting the game to bed. Despite the solid and strong defense by the Iran U-21 team which the skillful Costa Rica' forwards failed to penetrate during the whole match, their last few minutes were erratic, confusing and quite weak. Both the defenders and midfield players lost the ball in tackles, passed the wrong ball and in general were in disarray with only minutes left of the match. Thankfully the opponents shooting was not up to scratch and their finishing , a lot to be desired, In reality, Iran should have closed the game in a much better style. Iran U-21 next match is against Zambia who beat former champions Portugal 2-1 in the earlier game in the same group. ,  
Group matches - Group C
Iran     IRAN      -    COSTA RICA       Costa Rica
FULL-TIME
1    -      0
 
 Iran
1 N.MIRZAZAD (GK)      2 A.SHAHSAVARI ;  3 M.DERAKHSHANMEHR ; 5 N.TAHERI ; 6 M.SOLTANI (65' N. MOKHTARI); 8 A.SHOJAEI (79' A. RAZZAGHPOUR) ; 9 M.MEHDIKHANI ; 10 R.SHEKARI ; 11 R.JAFARI  (90' S, KHADEMPOUR); 16 O. NORAFKAN (C) ; 20 A.AGHASI Costa Rica 13 PINEDA. E (GK) ; 2 MESEN. D ; 4 SMITH. I ; 5 GONZALEZ .E; 6 HERNANDEZ. L (C) ; 8 MARIN. J ; 10 MARTINEZ. J ; 11 LEAL. R ; 19 SALINAS. Y; 20 JUAREZ. E ; 21 TORRES. G

AFC U-20 Futsal Championship: Iran on a rampage

Bangkok:  Iran made it four wins out of four at the AFC U-20 Futsal Championship on Saturday, as a 10-0 win over Kyrgyz Republic saw them reinforce their position at the top of Group D.

Having already secured their ticket to the quarter-finals on Friday, Iran warmed up for their last eight meeting with Lebanon by going ahead within seven minutes at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium thanks to Hamzeh Kadkhoda’s smart finish.

In what was proving to be a blistering first half display by the Iranians, further goals from Mohammad Jamebalani, Hamid Ghahramani, captain Mahdi Karimi and Kadkhoda again, saw head coach Ali Arani’s side take a commanding 5-0 lead going into the break.

Iran would continue to dominate after the interval, with Hamdreza Karimi’s brace as well as strikes from Mohammad Heidari, Omid Khani and Mohammad Taheri underlining the threat they will pose in the competition’s knockout phase.

  • As winners of Group D, Iran will play Lebanon in the quarter-finals
  • scorers of Iran: KADKHODA 7’, JAMEBALANI 7’, GHAHRAMANI 8’, M.KARIMI 15’, KADKHODA 20’, H.KARIMI 26’, H.KARIMI 27’, HEIDARI 28’, KHANI 34’ TAHERI 40’

Iran cruise in AFC U-20 Futsal Championship 2017

Bangkok:  Iran confirmed their place in quarter-finals of the AFC U-20 Futsal Championship as a 6-1 win over China saw them cement top spot in Group D with one game to go.

The victory was Iran’s third straight three-point haul in Bangkok, a fine run of form that has now set up a last eight showdown with either Uzbekistan or Lebanon.  

A Zhou Xu own goal after five minutes set Iran on their way at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, before strikes from Mohammed Jamebalani and Mohammad Taheri further strengthened their position going into half-time.

Hamidreza Karimi grabbed Iran’s fourth on 33 minutes, and despite Wang Jiahao finding the net for China, further goals from Mohammad Heidari and Hamid Ghahramani rounded off yet another scintillating Iranian display.

  •  Iran next game: May 20, Islamic Republic of Iran v Kyrgyz Republic

China: Wang 34’ Iran: Zhou 5’ (OG), Jamebalani 15’, Taheri 19’, Karimi 33’, Heidari 36’, Ghahramani 40’

Iran U20 futsal results

17 May 2017
Mongolia  0–6  Iran
Taheri Goal 7' Rezapour Goal 11', 20' Lotfi Goal 13' Kadkhoda Goal 16' M. Karimi Goal 30'
Referee: Osama Saeed Idrees (Bahrain)
 
18 May 2017
Iran  5–1  United Arab Emirates
Kadkhoda Goal 5', 37' M. Karimi Goal 24' Ghahramani Goal 25', 36' Report A. Ahmed Goal 30'
Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok Attendance: 100 Referee: Kim Jong-hee (South Korea)

Team Melli U20 final preparation for FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017

FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 is

With the FIFA U-20 World Cup just one week  away, the local organizers and the Team Melli U20 team are in the final stretch of their preparations to deliver an impressive performance .

Under the slogan "Trigger the Fever," the U-20 World Cup will be played from May 20 to June 11 in six cities -- Cheonan, Daejeon, Incheon, Jeonju, Suwon and Seogwipo, Jeju Island. South Korea is the third country, along with Mexico and Japan, to have hosted all major FIFA men's tournaments, with the 2001 Confederations Cup, the 2002 World Cup and the 2007 U-17 World Cup.

Amir Hossein Peyrovani’s boys have been drawn in Group C along with powerhouse Portugal, Zambia and Costa Rica. The squad will be leaving Tehran on Sunday for the long trip to Korea Republic. Peyrovani , in a press conference said that he has lots of hope in achieving a respectable rank and denied that he has promised anything let alone the title.

Peyrovani regretted the omission of Reza Karamolachab due to form but was quite glad that Esteghlal coach Alireza Mansourian has allowed his young Star Omid Noor Afkan to join Team Melli U20 squad for the world Cup.  The team also baost the presence of Reza Shekari the 18 years Zob Ahan star who has just been transfered to Rubin Kazan in the Russian League.

The pairings were drawn by some famous personalities including two amazing FIFA Legends, Diego Maradona, who won the 1979 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and Pablo Aimar, who won the 1997 edition. Also acting as draw assistants were the Mayor of Suwon City and owner of Suwon City FC, Tae Young Yeom; Vice-chairman of FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 Local Organizing Committee, a living legend of Korean Football who was a former Korean national football team player and a head coach, Bumkun Cha. T

The FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 will bring some promising matches. Hosts Korea Republic will take on Guinea in the opening match on 20 May, with Group A also including England and Argentina in what turned out to be a mouth-watering group.

The groups Group A: Korea Republic, Guinea, Argentina, England Group B: Venezuela, Germany, Vanuatu, Mexico Group C: Zambia, Portugal, Iran, Costa Rica Group D: South Africa, Japan, Italy, Uruguay Group E: France, Honduras, Vietnam, New Zealand Group F: Ecuador, USA, Saudi Arabia, Senegal

The 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup will be played in six venues across Korea Republic from 20 May to 11 June 2017.

 

Team Melli  U20  Squad

 

Players

1- Nima MIRZAZAD  Goalkeeper 
2- Ali SHAHSAVARI Defender
3- Mehran DERAKHSHAN Defender
4- Aref GHOLAMI  Defender
5- Nima TAHERI Defender
6- Mohammad SOLTANIMEHR Midfielder
7- Nima MOKHTARI Midfielder
8- Ali SHOJAEI Defender
9- Mohammad Mehdi MEHDIKHANI 
10- Reza SHEKARI Forward
11- Reza JAFARI Forward
12- Shahab ADELI Goalkeeper
13- Abolfazl RAZZAGHPOUR Defender
14- Siena KHADEMPOUR Defender
15- Amir ROUSTAEI Forward
16- Omid NORAFKAN Midfielder
17- Hossein SAKI Midfielder
18- Mohammad AGHAJANPOUR Forward
19- Mehdi GHAYEDI Midfielder
20- Aref AGHASI Midfielder
21- Mahdi MOHAMMADIAN Goalkeeper
 
 Coach:
Amir Hossein Peyrovani (IRN)
49 years old
 

Will the real Messi stand up?

espn.com

We here at Toe Poke love an odd story, and do we have one for you.

This one comes from an unlikely football source, Iran, where a 25-year-old student was detained -- yes, detained -- over the weekend for looking too much like Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, if you can believe it.

We'll let that sink in a bit. ...

But it's true! Reza Parastesh looks so much like the five-time Ballon d'Or winner that police in the city of Hamaden brought him to their station and impounded his car because of the commotion he was causing on the streets.

Apparently, too many people were stopping and requesting to take pictures with Parastesh, who has become a bit of a star and, to quote the BBC, "is fully booked with media interviews and has even landed modelling contracts."

Fancy.

Who is behind his sudden burst of fame, you might wonder? A stage father, of course, who was the first to put him in a Barca No. 10 shirt and snap a photo some 10 months ago. The rest is Doppelgänger history.

"Now people really see me as the Iranian Messi and want me to mimic everything he does," Parastesh, who says he is working on some football tricks, told AFP. "When I show up somewhere, people are really shocked.

"I'm really happy that seeing me makes them happy, and this happiness gives me a lot of energy."

Ahmadzadeh and PeymanHosseini selected as the best in World Cup 2017

Iran Captain and top Scorer Mohammad Ahmadzadeh and team Goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini were selected as the best in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 to add another accolade for Iran'sport. Ahmadzadeh won the trophy ahead of the two Brazilians Mauricinho and Datinha.

While Peyman Hosseini , the best goalkeeper in the tournament by far, won the golden glove.

Ahmadzadeh was also the third best scorer in the championship.

This was by far the most succesful Beach Soccer participation for Iran in the history of the sport 

Adidas Golden Ball

Glory for Iran Beach Soccer

  • Iran's third-place finish is best ever for Asian Football Confederation
  • Italy finishes in fourth place for second consecutive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
  • Gabriele Gori scores the most goals in a single tournament since Madjer in 2006

Iran ended their Bahamas 2017 campaign on a high with a 5-3 win against Italy in the play-off for third place to become Asia's highest ever finishers at the Beach Soccer World Cup.

These two teams met during the group stage at Bahamas 2017 with Italy edging Iran 5-4 in a thrilling match. The Europeans scored first that day, but it was Iran's turn this time. Mohammad Ahmadzadeh scored his seventh goal of the tournament when he put away a second-chance opportunity after Moslem Mesigar's shot was parried into his path.

Ahmadzadeh scored his second of the match early in the second period on another second-chance opportunity to take his overall tally to eight.

Mohammad Mokhtari then struck a phenomenal overhead kick to give Iran a three-goal cushion, which was fitting as Iran have attempted the most overhead kicks of anyone in the Bahamas.

Italy got back into the match courtesy of none other than Gabriele Gori. Two goals took him on to 17 - the second a curling effort from a set piece - to move him beyond Dejan Stankovic into second place for biggest hauls at a single competition. Less than a minute later, Mesigar scored his second of the tournament. 

Dario Ramacciotti brought the Azzurri back to within one goal with a well-placed, close range header. But it wasn't enough for the Italians as Ahmadzadeh completed his hat-trick with a late penalty to ultimately seal Iran's place in the record books.

  

 

Final Tournament Standings

So close ! Iran beach soccer loses penalty shootout.

  • You can fit the population of Tahiti into Iran 444 times (178,133 vs 79.1 million)
  • Lowest-scoring match at Bahamas 2017

Tahiti advanced to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 final after winning 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

The match got off to a very tentative start with both teams weighing each other's tactics up. Peyman Hosseini saved Li Raimana Li Fung Kuee's penalty in the first minute. Tearii Labaste hit the crossbar with a free-kick from distance, but other than that, not many chances were created.

The opening goal finally came midway through the second period when Ali Nazem jabbed home a shot from close range after a failed clearance by Heiarii Tavanae.

Tahiti eventually showed their experience and patience when Patrick Tepa scored with four and a half minutes left in the match. Captain Naea Bennett found Tepa with a calm cross and the midfielder timed his run before putting the chance away with confidence to send the match to extra time.

Neither side could find the decisive winner in the additional period, so the game went to penalties. It took 12 attempts to decide the winner in the shoot-out, but eventually it was Raimoana Bennett who was the day's hero. His goal sent the Tahitians to their second consecutive final.

FIFA Beach Soccer : Iran advance to semi-finals for first time

  • For the first time in tournament history, all semi-finalists are from different confederations

THE DAY REPLAYED - Iran qualified for their first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling win in extra time against Switzerland, while experienced sides Tahiti, Brazil and Italy also booked tickets to the last four.

Iran advanced to the semi-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup for the first time in their history with a thrilling 4-3 win after extra time against Switzerland. 

  • Iran qualify for semi-finals at Beach Soccer World Cup for first time
  • Iran goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini made several saves late in the match
  • Iran will meet Tahiti in the semi-finals

Iran captain Mohammad Ahmadzadeh scored the opening goal of the match with an overhead kick. He then put Iran two goals in front with a superb, one-time volley straight out of the air directly from a throw-in.

Switzerland then sprung to life and came all the way back from two goals down to take a 3-2 lead in the second period. The country's all-time top scorer in the tournament Dejan Stankovic started their resurgence with a flicked finish. Glenn Hodel then scored a pair of goals to give the Swiss a one-goal lead.

With less than a minute on the clock, Ali Nazem scored a clutch goal for Iran to force the match into extra time. Iran then made history when Mohammed Mokhtari redirected Amir Akbari's shot into the net to score the winning goal. 

Iran will now face Tahiti in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Four-time champions Brazil needed a stunning overhead kick in the final two minutes of the match to see them edge past champions Portugal.

Portugal 2015 runners-up Tahiti had to work hard against Paraguay, but late strikes from Heiarii Tavanae and Patrick Tepa helped seal their progression to Saturday's semi-finals. 

Italy's 5-1 win over Senegal was the most dominant performance of the evening. Coach Massimo Agostini's side were boosted b top scorer Gabriele Gori (14), who appears as if he'll never stop scoring in the Bahamas.