Iran men’s national deaf futsal team has recorded a deserved victory at the 2015 Deaf Futsal World Cup in Thailand, and secured a place in the final showdown of the international sporting event after overcoming the Netherlands.
On Thursday, the audibly-challenged Iranian sportsmen defeated the Dutch side 3-2 in a match staged at the indoor Nimibutr Stadium in the Thai capital city of Bangkok.
The Dutch futsal players opened the semifinal game in a convincing fashion, remaining consistent and taking an early lead in the second minute, when Christiaan Castelijns Jacobus Antonius put the ball at the back of Iran’s net and scored the opener.
Iranian sportsmen then established themselves and Esmaeil Shah Zeid tacked the equalizer a minute later.
The Persians later built up pressure on the Dutch side, and Mohammad Jahangiri-Moradlou seized a marvelous chance in the 12th minute to put Iran 2-1 ahead.
Iranian players had plenty of marvelous opportunities to score more goals in the remaining minutes of the first half, but squandered their chances.
The Iranians continued to exert a spell of pressure on their rivals after the break, and Mostafa Heydari nailed the third goal for Iran a quarter into the second half.
In the 38th minute, Dave Van Maris seized a great chance and netted a goal to narrow the Netherlands’ deficit against Iran to 2-3 before the referee sounded his whistle two minutes later.
Iran men’s national deaf futsal team will face the hosts in the final match at the Nimibutr Stadium on Saturday.
The 2015 Deaf Futsal World Cup opened in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 20, and will wrap up on November 28.