Tag: AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025

AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup Preview – SF: Japan v Iran

Hohhot: Head coach Takehiro Suga is confident Japan will end their winless run against Iran when they meet in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 semi-finals on Thursday.

The two sides have historic rivalry, having met in the finals of the 2015 and 2018 editions, with Iran emerging victorious on both occasions.

Suga is not only hopeful of reversing the trend but also going on to lift their maiden continental title. 

“We don’t change anything. We believe in ourselves and we will play our style. But we have to play effectively and our determination will need to improve a little. If we do that we can win the match,” said Suga. 

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“I’m happy to be in the semi-finals. Iran are one of the toughest opponents in this tournament. The next match will be a difficult one but we will do our best.

“We want to show how much we’ve grown over the past seven years. I believe in my players and their ability. We have to win tomorrow.”

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Captain Kaho Ito, while expecting a challenging match, was equally of a Japanese victory.  

“Tomorrow’s match will be very difficult, but we will do our best and aim to win,” said Ito. “I’m glad to play against Iran in the semi-final. All of Iran’s players are very good, so I need to think carefully about how we manage the game. We must stay focused, collaborate with the team, and help each other to win.”

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Iran advanced after a gruelling 3-1 extra-time victory over Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals but head coach Foruzan Solymani firmly believes they will go on to seal a third title. 

“All teams came here to show their best performance. We are two-time champions, but this will be a very tough match. The situation is difficult for all teams and everyone has improved a lot and wants to perform at their best,” said Solymani.

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“Our players were tired after the quarter-finals, but tomorrow’s match is for a place in the World Cup. The players are highly motivated and have recovered well, both mentally and physically.”

Iran goalkeeper Farzaneh Tavasoli is looking forward to another thrilling encounter between two of Asia’s best teams.

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“Tomorrow we will have another great match, just like in 2015 and 2018. These are the two best teams in Asia, and it will be a highly competitive game,” said the 38-year-old captain.

“We are two-time champions, and we understand the feeling of winning and lifting the trophy. That’s why we can’t afford to lose focus. We must stay focused and aim to win the title for the third time.”

Japan v Iran 

Venue: Hohhot Sports Centre

Kick-off: Thursday, 20:00 (UTC+8) – Iran Time 15:30 (UTC +3.30)

Iran women futsal qualify for the knockout rounds.

Hohhot: Defending champions Iran secured their place in the quarter-finals after defeating Hong Kong, China 3-1 in their AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group B tie on Friday.

The win took Iran to six points – level with Vietnam who also qualified – with the two to meet on Sunday to decide the group winners. 

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Having opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Philippines, Iran took time to find their rhythm, with Fatemeh Hosseini testing Hong Kong, China goalkeeper Ng Cheuk Wai in the fifth minute.

The East Asian side tried to match Iran’s agility but were often caught in transition with their defence scrambling to close down the danger from the flanks.

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Cheung Wai Ki had a great chance for Hong Kong, China in the sixth minute – latching onto Chan Wing Sze’s pass before striking a low shot which brought the best out of Iran keeper Farzaneh Tavasoli.

Iran’s pressure came to fruition in the 10th minute after Fereshteh Karimi’s effort rattled the left post with the rebound falling kindly for Elham Anafjeh to tap the ball home.

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Hong Kong, China, however, maintained their feisty demeanour to level the tie two minutes later after Nastaran Moghimi turned Tsang Lai Mae Halasan’s effort into her own net.

Iran almost regained the lead in the 16th minute with Fereshteh Khosravi and Elham Anafjeh both being denied by the post while at the other end, So Hoi Lam’s curling effort was tipped over the bar by Tavasoli.

Group B: Hong Kong, China v IR Iran

A 5-3 defeat to Vietnam in their opener meant Hong Kong, China needed the points to salvage their campaign but their efforts of the first half were undone by a costly mistake in the 26th minute.

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A poor pass from Kung Yuet Charis to Chan Wing Sze was caught out by Mahtab Banaei, who powered her way through to fire past Ng.

Iran piled on the pressure and put the game beyond Hong Kong, China’s reach in the 37th minute after Maral Torkaman laid the ball for Anafjeh to drill a low shot into the bottom right corner to claim her second goal of the evening.

Group B

RankTeam PWDLFAGDPTS
1VIETNAMVIETNAM22008356
2 IranIR Iran22004136
3HONG KONG, CHINAHONG KONG, CHINA200248-40
4PHILIPPINESPHILIPPINES200204-40

A lone goals seals Iran women futsal victory

Hohhot:
the-afc.com

A late goal from Iran secured a 1-0 victory in their opening match of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 as they saw off the Philippines on Wednesday morning.

Making their tournament debut, the Philippines came within a whisker of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history against the defending champions, who won every one of their 10 matches en-route to claiming the title in both previous editions in 2015 and 2018.

In the end, IR Iran found a way through in the dying stages as Maral Torkaman broke Philippines’ hearts to take all three points in the Group B encounter at the Hohhot Sports Centre.

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Far from being overawed, the Philippines took the game to their opponents from the start and Isabella Bandoja nearly gave them the lead in the third minute as Farzaneh Tavasoli denied her in a one-on-one situation before the rebound was chipped just over by Isabella Flanigan.

Iran then found their stride and saw efforts from Mahtab Banaei, Nasimeh Gholami and Torkaman saved by Samantha Hughes, while Elham Anafjeh and Fereshteh Karimi put their chances wide.

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That sort of profligacy characterised the Central Asians’ first-half showing as Karimi and Torkaman blasted the ball over from good positions, while Hughes – the youngest player at this tournament who turns 17 in two weeks’ time – stymied Iran’s other shots, in particular pulling off an outstanding double save on Torkaman and Banaei.

Group B: IR Iran v Philippines

It was Tavasoli’s turn to shine shortly after the break as she somehow clawed away Dionesa Tolentin’s point-blank shot before then repelling another fierce strike from the same player.

The teams continued to trade blows but Iran, ranked ninth by FIFA – 46 places above the Philippines – struggled to find the breakthrough thanks to tenacious defending and strong goalkeeping.

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But just when it looked like the match would end in only the second-ever goalless result, Torkaman came up with the goods for Iran.

Having spurned several chances already, Torkaman made no mistake with three minutes left after being set up by Sara Shirbeigi to sidefoot into an empty net and seal a hard-fought win.