Tag: Pattaya

Iran routs Japan in the finals of AFC beach Soccer Asian Cup 2023

Pattaya: Iran were at their awesome best as they defeated Japan 6-0 in the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 final at the Jomtien Beach Arena on Sunday.
The win saw Iran draw level with Japan on three titles each, with both teams now casting their eyes on preparing for the FIFA Beach Soccer World UAE 2023 in November.
It was a tense start with neither team allowing the other space but it was Iran who had the first look on goal with Amir Akbari sending his overhead kick just above the bar.
Despite Japan’s man-marking, Iran scored the opening goal in spectacular fashion when Movahed Mohammadpour collected a long pass from keeper Seyedmahdi Mirjajili before finishing acrobatically in the fourth minute.
Japan struggled to find their footing and suffered another setback in the eighth minute with Mirjajili the orchestrator again when he set up Ali Mirshekari for another acrobatic finish leaving Shinya Shibamoto well beaten.
Three-time champions Japan came alive in the 11h minute with Takaaki Oba threatening with an overhead effort before Shibamoto’s long-range drive forced a fingertip save from Mirjajili.
Japan were missing the attacking play which had seen them breeze to the final and had no answer to Iran’s aggression when they conceded again in the 20th minute after Mirjajili’s throw was deflected by Movahed to an unmarked Moslem Mesigar to slam the ball home.
The East Asian side almost found a way through with Takuya Akaguma seeing his shot graze the bar before Ozu skied his free-kick in the closing stages, leaving them with a mountain to climb heading into the break.
Iran piled more misery on Japan in the 29th minute when Shibamoto was dispossessed in his own area by Mohammadali Mokhtari before slotting home the fourth into an empty goalmouth.
Iran furthered their advantage in the 35th minute following an own goal by Japan’s Kosuke Matsuda before Mirshekari added the sixth with seconds left on the clock to seal the win and clinch their third title.

Another masterclass for Iran’s beach soccer defeating UAE 7-2

the-afc.com
Pattaya:
Iran were simply unstoppable as they defeated United Arab Emirates 7-2 to top Group B of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 on Monday.
Both teams advanced to the quarter-finals, with Iran to face the Group A runners-up while UAE will take on the Group A winners.
Despite both having already sealed their knockout stage tickets, the action came thick and fast at the Jomtien Beach Arena with UAE threatening after Abdulla Dahqani rifled his effort high but it was not long before Iran kicked into high gear.
The Central Asians made short work of the Emiratis defence in the fourth minute with Ali Mirshekari volleying Saeid Piramoun’s overhead effort into the roof of the net.
UAE came close on several occasions with Rashed Yaqoub wasting two golden opportunities, while keeper Mohamed Abdulla failed to find the target from a volleyed effort as the score remained 1-0 going into the break.
UAE remained compact in the second half but Iran showed their class when Mahdi Shirmohammadi found space at the top of the area before curling in a powerful drive past a rooted UAE keeper Mohamed Abdulla.
The momentum shifted in UAE’s favour when they reduced the deficit in the 17th minute through Walid Mohammad free-kick before the No 10 executed a clinical strike a minute later which slipped past Iran keeper Seyedmahdi Mirjajili.
Iran stayed calm under pressure and netted twice in two minutes thanks to efforts from Movahed Mohammadpour off a set-piece before Mirjajili struck from distance to restore their two-goal advantage.
It was end-to-end action in the closing stages of the half but it was Iran who took advantage again with Mahdi Shirmohammadi scoring from distance.
Iran extended their lead in the 27th minute through Mohammad Moradi’s free-kick before Mohammadali Mokhtari pounced on a back pass to strike home Iran’s seventh in the 33rd minute.