Iran and Brazil advanced to the Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup Final after beating Tahiti and Russia in the semi finals victories on Friday.
Iran Beach Soccer team , title winner in 2013, reached the final of the 2016 edition in Dubai by defeating Tahiti 8-6.
Iran goals were scored by Akbari (3 goals), Meisegar (2 goals) Blockbashi (2 goals) and Ahmadzadeh.
Iran and Brazil advanced to semi-final after having finished top of their groups courtesy of victories on Thursday.
The two teams maintained their perfect starts with against Russia and Tahiti respectively. Iran’s victory was as a result of a 3-1 penalties kick off after a thrilling battle for top spot in Group B on Thursday night.
In the game of the day, Iran defeated Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup holder Russia 3-1 on penalties in front of a packed stadium at Dubai International Marine Club. The
Russia battled back from 3-1 down to force extra time with goals from Peremitin and Makarov.
The impressive Peyman Hosseini in Iran’s goal played a crucial part and he saw Paporotnyi miss from the spot as team-mates Nazem, Mokhtari and Ahmadzadeh all converted, ensuring Iran top spot ahead of its semi-final against Tahiti.
.The Iranians should have won in regulation time, up 3-2 as the match headed into the final 55 seconds, but Alexsey Makarov managed to find the equaliser in those frantic final moments to force the game to three minutes of extra time, and then penalties, where Russia could find the target only once.
The win means Iran, the 2013 champions, will meet Tahiti. The Pacific Islanders were earlier drubbed 10-4 by Brazil in the battle for top spot in Group A, but Angelo Schirinzi, the Tahiti coach, was not complaining.
“I prefer playing Iran because Russia is very strong,” said Schirinzi, whose team faded away after going toe-to-toe in the first two periods of their match against the Brazilians.
Tahiti rallied twice in the second period – first from 0-2 and then from 2-4 to level the scores, but Bruno da Silva, who had opened the scoring for Brazil inside the first 40 seconds of the match, fired in his third of the period, five seconds from the break, to give them a 5-4 lead heading into the final 12 minutes.
Earlier, Brazil ensured top spot in Group A thanks to its 10-4 win against Tahiti.