Iran U-20 futsal team books berth in 2018 Youth Olympic Games
Iran men's national under-20 futsal team has thrashed Thailand in a quarterfinal showdown of the 2017 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-20 Futsal Championship, and secured its spot in the Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
On Wednesday, young Iranian futsal players overcame rivals from the host nation 7-5 at the end of a match played at the Bangkok Arena in the Thai capital city of Bangkok.
Winger Panat Kittipanuwong scored the first goal by hitting the target in the first minute to give Thailand an early lead. Iran’s Captain Touhid Lotfi drew level a minute later though.
Kittipanuwong then put the hosts ahead in the 10th minute, before Iranian midfielder Mohammad Taheri scored an equalizer shortly afterwards.
Midfielder Mohammad Jame grabbed Iran’s third in the 39th minute before Worrapluch Jiwjaratrong before the second period ended in a three-all draw.
The Iranian sportsmen kept their composure as they returned to action. They maintained the lead, and Lotfi netted his second goal in the 43rd minute.
Muhammad Osamanmusa, however, put the ball into back of the net in the 45th minute to get Thailand’s fourth goal of the match.
Hamidreza Karimi’s shot hit the back of the net a minute later, before Iran’s captain scored a hat trick.
Kittipanuwong scored Thailand’s final goal in the 48th minute, before Iran’s striker Hamzeh Kadkhoda netted the winner in the 50th minute.
Iran men's national under-20 futsal team will play Iraq in the final match of the 2017 AFC U-20 Futsal Championship on Friday.
The tournament kicked off in Thailand on May 16, and will wrap up on May 26.
A total of 21 teams are participating in the continental sports event. The 21 teams have been divided into four groups (one with six teams and three with five teams), with the group winners and runners-up advancing to the quarter-finals.
The 2017 AFC U-20 Futsal Championship serves as qualifying for the futsal tournament at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the winner and the runner-up qualifying for the boys' tournament, where they will be represented by their U-18 representative teams.
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