Iran goes down to Spain in FIFA Futsal World Cup
Iran men’s national futsal team has sustained a stinging defeat at the preliminary round of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Futsal World Cup in Colombia, slumping to two-time world champions Spain.
On Monday, the Spaniards got off to a strong start, and 27-year-old forward Sergio Lozano Martínez, commonly known as Sergio Lozano, scored a goal in the opening minute of Group F match played at Iván de Beodut Coliseum in the central northwestern Colombian city of Medellín.
José Ruiz, 30, doubled Spain’s lead in the sixth minute, when he took advantage of a favorable opportunity to put the ball at the back of Iran’s net.
Spanish futsal player Jesús Nazaret Aicardo Collantes, commonly known as Aicardo, gave his side a three-goal advantage in the 16th minute prior to the interval.
Spain’s Miguel Sayago Martí, better known as Miguelín, scored the fourth goal of the match for the European champions with a dazzling volley from a corner. The fifth goal for Spain arrived in the 26th minute as Aicardo netted a brace.
Iranian 28-year-old futsal player Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh scored a consolation goal a minute later to bring belated joy to the Persians’ contingent and reduce the gap.
The 2016 FIFA Futsal World, which is the 8th edition of the tournament, opened in Colombia on September 10 and will wrap up on October 1.
Iran has been drawn alongside Azerbaijan, Morocco and Spain in Group F of the sports event.
The Colombian hosts are pitted against Panama, Portugal and Uzbekistan in Group A, while Cuba, Egypt, Russia and Thailand form Group B.
Guatemala, Italy, Paraguay and Vietnam are put in Group C. Group D consists of Australia, Brazil, Mozambique and Ukraine.
Argentina, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan and the Solomon Islands shape Group E.
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