Tag: Maral Torkman

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.

Iranian Women’s National Futsal Team Eyes Historic Hat-Trick at 2025 AFC Championship

The Iranian women’s national futsal team, champions of the last two editions of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship, is aiming to secure a historic third consecutive title in the upcoming tournament. Riding on the momentum of its golden generation, Iran enters the 2025 championship as a firm favorite.

Tournament Overview

The third edition of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship is set to take place from May 6 to 17, 2025, in Hohhot, China. This premier continental competition will bring together Asia’s strongest women’s futsal teams, each vying not only for the trophy but also for a spot in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup, hosted by the Philippines.

The tournament will begin with a group stage, where two teams from each group will directly advance to the knockout rounds. Additionally, the two best third-placed teams will also qualify for the quarter-finals. The top three finishers in the tournament will qualify for the World Cup, joining host nation Philippines.

Iran’s Group and Key Opponents

Iran has been drawn in a group with:

  • Vietnam
  • Hong Kong
  • Philippines

Vietnam, who held Iran to level points in a recent friendly tournament in China, poses the most significant challenge in the group. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong and Philippine teams, though spirited, have not yet reached Iran’s level of competitiveness. The Philippines, however, may prove unpredictable due to their added motivation as World Cup hosts.

Championship Pedigree and Aspirations

Iran claimed the AFC title in 2015 and 2018, establishing itself as a powerhouse in Asian women’s futsal. Now, after a seven-year break, the national team is eager to lift the trophy for the third time. This ambition has brought renewed energy to both the players and coaching staff, all committed to cementing Iran’s dominance in the sport.

Squad and Key Players

Iran’s 14-player squad retains much of the core that secured their previous two championships. The team is coached by Forouzan Soleimani. Iran’s women’s futsal Team is ranked 9th in the FIFA Ranking. Key figures from the golden generation include:

  • Farzaneh Tavassoli
  • Tahereh Mehdipour
  • Nasimeh Gholami (Captian)
  • Sara Shirbeigi
  • Fereshteh Karimi

These seasoned athletes bring not only skill but invaluable championship experience to the squad.

Emerging talents who have excelled in domestic leagues will also feature prominently:

  • Mahdieh Mahmoudinia
  • Fatemeh Rahmati
  • Maral Torkman
  • Fatemeh Hosseini

Together, this blend of experience and youth forms a balanced, formidable lineup ready to take on Asia’s best.

Outlook: A Defining Moment

This tournament represents a critical moment in the history of Iranian women’s futsal. A third title would solidify Iran’s status as the dominant force in Asia and secure its spot at the first-ever FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup. The stakes are high, and the road ahead is challenging, but Iran is determined to rise once again.

PLAYER TO WATCH

MARAL TORKMAN

Name: Maral Torkman
Date of Birth: 06th Dec 2002
Place of Birth: Karaj
Age: 22 years
Club Nasr Fardis
Height: 160 cm

Maral started her sporting activities at the age of 11, playing football in the neighborhood. She was influenced by her brothers, two of whom play professional football: Mehdi who plays for Mes Rafsanjan and Amir Hossein. Her father was also a former footballer.
At the age of 14 , Maral was selected for the Iran U15 team.In a strange twist, Maral at 17 decided to change her passion and head towards Futsal. She joined the local team Saipa team and quickly became a success story. She was soon selected for the National Iranian women’s futsal team.

Iran’s Group Stage Schedule – 2025 AFC Women’s Futsal Championship

  • Wednesday, May 07
    🆚 Iran vs. Philippines – 06:30 (Tehran Time)
  • Friday, May 09
    🆚 Hong Kong vs. Iran – 12:30 (Tehran Time)
  • Sunday, May 11
    🆚 Iran vs. Vietnam – 12:30 (Tehran Time)