the Iranian national futsal team defeated Italy 6-4 today Monday in the first international friendly training match. In this game, which was held at 20:45 (Tehran time) in Salsomajore, Mehdi Karimi (three times), Mohammad Shajari, Hossein Tayyebi, and Saeed Ahmad Abbasi scored for Iran. The goals of the host team were also scored by Alex Merlim, Gabriel Motta, De Matheos, Morillo.

In the first of the two friendlies with Italy, missing Mammarella due to injury and on the day of the 100th appearances of Alex Merlim’s the host Italy, lost 4-6 at the end of a challenge of rare intensity against the seventh-ranked team in the Wolrd, Iran. Spectacular and fun game, with many reversals of results. First half – Iran, looking ready and strong immediately put the Azzurri under pressure; after just one minute and forty seconds, Karimi unlocked the Italian goal by overcoming Molitierno for 1-0.

– MEHDI KARIMI –

Molitierno had to drop the shutter on a couple of other occasions, and Iran found the way to double the score, bagging again with Karimi the net of 2-0 at the thirteenth. In the most difficult moment of the first half, Murilo gets a penalty kick that Merlim converts the Penalty kick for 1-2 which puts Italy back in the game. Iran puts fierce pressure on the possession of Merlim and his comrades, but it has the only demerit of charging itself with fouls. Two minutes before half-time, with Nazem Al-Sharia’s team in bonus, Motta took advantage of the free throw and scored the equalizer. Thirty seconds later, Musumeci provoked the direct red of the Iran keeper Bagher Mohammadi, but Merlim did not take advantage of the following free. Like the extra man, however, Merlim redeems himself by creating the assist for Cainan: the goal of the Azzurri put them 3-2 with half a minute from the end of the first half.

Second half – The start of Iran’s recovery is sumptuous. Still, Karimi, with the personal hat-trick, puts the match back in parity after just seventy seconds and in the sixth, it is Shajari who creates the counter and scores.  with a goal behind (3-4) Italy suffers in the dribbling phase, with the Iranians continuing to put a suffocating defensive pressure. Bellarte’s team, however, has the strength to rebalance the challenge with Murilo’s touch under goal for 4-4 in the ninth minute. However, it is still Iran that scores by putting its head forward with Benfica star Hossein Tayyebi. Bellarte responded by immediately putting the goalkeeper in action for power play, but the hopes of a draw were shattered on the saves of the substitute Sepher Mohammadi and on the post hit by Motta 50 “from the end. Just on the counter Abbasi, taking advantage of the 5 vs 4, scores the definitive sixth for guests Iran (4-6) with an empty goal. For the Azzurri, however, a test of character against one of the strongest teams in the world.

Tomorrow the match between the two teams at 5 pm will be repeated in the same venue at the Palasport of Salsomaggiore Terme.

Italy is preparing for the Euro 2022 championship and the match against Iran will be the team’s last preparation game.