News / Sports

Iran draws 3-3 with Azerbaijan in 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup

Monday, 19 September 2016 2:21 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 19 September 2016 5:39 PM ]

This photo shows a view of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Group F match between Iran (players in white) and Azerbaijan at Iván de Beodut Coliseum in Medellín, Colombia, on September 18, 2016.

Iran men’s national futsal team has ended on level terms with Azerbaijan at the preliminary round of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Futsal World Cup in Colombia.

On Sunday, the Iranian sportsmen put on a fine display in their Group F match played at Iván de Beodut Coliseum in the central northwestern Colombian city of Medellín, and registered a 3-3 draw against their Caucasian counterparts.

The Persians started the game in a dominant fashion, and 28-year-old Ahmad Esmaeilpour opened the scoring for Iran national futsal team only one minute into the fixture.

Azerbaijanis mounted a counter-attack shortly afterwards, and Thiago Bolinha netted the equalizer in the 2nd minute.

Later on, Iranian and Azerbaijani futsal players directed the ball at each other’s goal, but the shots ricocheted just off the crossbar and returned to the game every time.

Iranian futsal players put Azerbaijan’s goalkeeper under pressure in the last five minutes of the match, but failed to take advantage of goal scoring opportunities and both team went into the breather tied at one.

Iran’s 27-year-old Farhad Tavakoli doubled Iran’s lead in the 22nd minute, but Gallo converted his attempt seconds later and the score read 2-2.

Iran’s Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh committed a ghastly mistake moments later, and offered the Azerbaijanis a wonderful chance. Gallo jumped at the opening and scored his brace in the 32nd minute.

Five minutes later, Hossein Tayyebi netted Iran’s third goal.

Iran men’s national futsal team is scheduled to take on Brazil in its next fixture on Tuesday.

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.

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