Tag: Bagher Mohammad

Iran turn on the power to see off Uzbekistan

the-afc.com
Jakarta: Iran came from two goals down to defeat Uzbekistan 7-4 in a thrilling AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026™ quarter-final on Tuesday.

The win for the 13-time champions sets up a semi-final clash with Iraq – who defeated Thailand 4-2 in their quarter-final, on Tuesday.

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Uzbekistan were awarded a penalty after a Video Support review within the first minute when Iran keeper Bagher Mohammadi barged into Ikhtiyor Ropiev, with the latter firing into the left corner past the flat-footed custodian.

Shakram Fakhriddinov extended their lead in the sixth minute when he slipped past his marker on the left and slammed the ball from the edge of the semi-circle into the top right corner.

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In response, Iran piled on the pressure with Moslem Oladghobad pulling one back a minute later, collecting a pass from Mehdi Mehdikhani and sending a low drive that deflected off opposing skipper Khamroev Ilkhomjon and past a rooted Abbos Elmurodov.

They leveled in the ninth minute through Ahmad Abbasi who, from a long throw by his keeper, chested the ball and produced an acrobatic volley from the edge of the circle that bounced off the floor and past Elmurodov.

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The keeper made a fine save to deny Abbasi moments later, but was caught off-position in the 12th minute when Behrooz Azimi came down the right and fed the ball to Mohammadhossein Derakshani, who lashed his shot into an empty goal.

Mohammadi palmed away Ropiev’s rising shot in the 18th minute, and the next Iran attack saw Hossein Sabzi come from behind the Uzbekistan defence on the right and slip the ball past Elmurodov for goal number four.

Q-final – IR Iran v Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan went into overdrive after the break, Mohammadi working hard to make consecutive saves from Eldor Nigmatov’s close-range effort and one from distance by Anaskhon Rakhmatov.

Their hopes were dealt a blow in the 23rd minute when an Ilkhomjon handball saw Iran awarded a penalty, with skipper Hossesin Tayebi duly converting to send his side further ahead. 

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Sunatalla Juraev, however, brought Uzbekistan back into the game three minutes later with a stiff drive from the left that zipped past both Mohammadi and midfielder Khalilvand Somehsoflam and came to rest in the far right corner.

Their joy was short-lived as Elmurodov was sent off in the 29th minute when he handled the ball outside the circle, with Azimi tapping in from the left past stand-in keeper Shavkat Ibragimov from the resulting free-kick.

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Uzbekistan again bounced back, this time through Muzaffar Akhadjonov, whose stinging shot from just past the centreline gave Mohammadi no chance at all but Sabzi sealed the match in the closing seconds to send Iran into yet another semi-final.

.Futsal Team Melli to the final match

Bangkok: Goalkeeper Bagher Mohammadi was the star a Iran defeated Uzbekistan 5-4 on penalties after their AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand™ 2024 semi-final ended 3-3 after extra-time on Friday.

Mohammadi saved two spot-kicks as Iran advanced to Sunday’s final against hosts Thailand, with the Central Asian side seeking a record-extending 13th AFC Futsal Asian Cup title. 

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Iran earned a free-kick in a dangerous position just seconds into the tie but Uzbekistan were quick to snuff out the attempt, with Ikhtiyor Ropiev playing the ball on for the overlapping Khusniddin Nishonov, who dragged his effort just inches off the right post.

It was a tense opening minutes with neither side giving an inch of space with Iran’s Salar Aghapour seeing his effort from a distance saved by Uzbekistan keeper Abbos Elmurodov, while at the other end Aghapour needed to step in to foil Ilkhomjon Khamroev’s challenge.

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Iran, however, struck in the third minute when Aghapour weaved his way down the left flank before unleashing his shot which took a deflection off Uzbekistan’s Mashrab Adilov before settling in the back of the net.

Uzbekistan, however, fought back and drew level in the ninth minute with Sunatulla Juraev’s free-kick from distance beating a diving Bagher Mohammadi.

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It was end to end action with Iran keeping Elmurodov busy with an array of shots from Saeid Ahmad Abbasi, while Mohammadi was also tested when he had to keep out Khamroev’s effort.

It was Uzbekistan who scored next, Abror Akhmetzyanov initially deflecting Mohammadhossein Derakhshani’s pass, with Khamroev then laying the ball for Nishonov to set up Akhmetzyanov for a simple tap-in.

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Iran turned up the tempo in the second half and drew level in the 24th minute when the unfortunate Akhmetzyanov turned in Moslem Oladghobad’s free-kick from the left flank.

Uzbekistan suffered another blow in the 27th minute when Adilov received his marching orders after picking up his second yellow card leaving the door open for Iran, who retook the lead two minutes later.

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Aghapour sent a delightful cross to an unmarked Behrooz Azimihematabadi, who had the simplest of touches to put the ball into the back of the net from close range leaving Elmurodov stunned.

Iran, however, suffered a lapse in concentration in the 35th minute when Juraev dispossessed Mahdi Karimi on the right flank before supplying the cross for Akhmetzyanov to slot home the equaliser in an unattended goal.

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Abbasi came close to scoring in the closing stages of the first period when his angled overhead kick sailed above the bar, while Ropiev forced a fine fingertip save from Mohammadi with the Iranian custodian saved Nishonov’s effort from distance.

Mohammadi then saved the first and sixth Uzbekistan spot-kicks as Iran moved within a match of yet another AFC Futsal Asian Cup title.