Tag: Behrooz Azimi

03/02/202603/02/2026

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

29/01/202629/01/2026

Firm start by Iran Futsal Team

Jakarta: Iran’s title defence started with a 4-1 win against Malaysia in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026™ Group D tie on Wednesday.

With the win, Iran joined Afghanistan, who beat Saudi Arabia 3-0 earlier in the day, on maximum points.

Malaysia forced Bagher Mohammadi into making two early saves, both efforts from Awalluddin Nawi but it was Iran who would take the lead inside the opening minute.

A mix-up between goalkeeper Syaifuddin Syukri and Saad Sani saw what was supposed to be an easy gather turned into a simple tap-in for Mohammadhossein Derakhshani.

Mohammadi came to the rescue of Iran again in the fifth minute, coming out of his goalmouth to stop a marauding Firdaus Ambiah who had broken through the last line of defence.

Similarly, Syaifuddin had to work hard to prevent the gap from widening, making a smart reflex swing to tip away Salar Aghapour’s rasping drive in the 10th minute and then sticking his leg out in the 18th to clear a volley from the same player before Hossein Tayebi cracked a shot against the post just before the break.

Group D: IR Iran v Malaysia

After the interval, Malaysia continued to soak up Iran’s pressure with the occasional counter attacks looking dangerous but the reigning champions’ efficiency came to the fore in the 25th minute.

Aghapour – from the kick-in – teed up Behrooz Azimi for a precise low strike into the bottom corner which Syaifuddin could do nothing about.

Iran were brimming with confidence now, adding a third a minute later when Tayebi capitalised on a Malaysian mistake to fire home from the edge of the semi-circle.

Moslem Oladghobad added another for Iran in the 28th minute with Malaysia netting a late consolation through Awalluddin.

24/04/202424/04/2024

Futsal Team Melli turn on the power

Iran booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand™ 2024 after defeating the Kyrgyz Republic 6-1 in their last-eight tie at the Bangkok Arena on Wednesday.

The win meant the 12-time champions also punched their ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024, with a meeting against Uzbekistan or Vietnam in Friday’s semi-finals.

Kyrgyz Republic, meanwhile, will need to wait for the outcome of the day’s last quarter-final between Uzbekistan and Vietnam to learn whether their campaign has concluded, or they will return to action in Friday’s playoffs.

Iran head coach Vahid Shamsaei said his players found the opening minutes difficult as they were not used to the court conditions.

“We had to acclimatize to the conditions of the court surface as we did not play in this arena in the group stage. However, the players knew what they had to do and we had the perfect second half,” said Shamsaei.

“I’m proud of my players as we also qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan later this year. Even though Japan are not here in this competition, the quality of the other teams has improved.”

Kyrgyz Republic head coach Luis Molina was proud of his players despite the heavy defeat.

“I think we played a very good first half but unfortunately for us, we had two players absent due to suspension. We were fighting for 20 minutes with Iran and this was not an easy level. As we approached the end of second half, the players were fatigued,” said Molina.

Kyrgyz Republic, who lost all their three previous encounters against Iran, had the first look at goal in the opening minute when keeper Bekbolot Akmataliev sent a long ball for Daniiar Talaibekov, who couldn’t get his header on target.

Akmataliev’s reflexes were put to the test moments later when he thwarted Salar Aghapour’s grounded effort and then kept out Behrooz Azimihematabadi twice before the Iran No 14 was denied by the bar followed by a block on Ali Khalilvand’s effort from distance.

Iran continued pressing and broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Azimi found space down the centre to strike the ball into the top right corner of the net.

Kyrgyz Republic responded immediately, equalizing a minute later when Akmataliev squared the ball to Amanbaev Donierbek, who beat his marker on the turn before slotting home a grounded effort, leaving Iran keeper Bagher Mohammadi stunned.

Iran restored their lead two minutes later when they were awarded a free-kick with Aghapour curling his effort over the wall and into the top right corner.

Kyrgyz Republic fell further behind three minutes after the restart when they were caught on the counter-attack when Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh played on the ball for Saeid Abbasi to strike home from just above the arc past a diving Akmataliev.

Despite Kyrgyz Republic’s best efforts, Iran scored their fourth in the 25th minute after Abbasi gained possession before squaring it to Hassanzadeh to tee up Mahdi Karimi to slot the ball through the legs of Akmataliev.

Karimi doubled his tally in the 35th minute after collecting the ball off Aghapour’s cutback from the left flank to slot home on the turn from the top of the box before Hassanzadeh made it 6-1 from the penalty spot.