Iran finishes third in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
The national Iranian men's beach soccer team has put a highly commendable end to its campaign at the 2017 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas, and ranked third at the end of the high-status international event.
On Sunday and the final day of the tournament at National Beach Soccer Arena of Malcolm Park in Nassau, the Iranian team defeated the Italian squad 5-3 in the third-place play-off.
The Iranians asserted their dominance very soon. Forward Mohammad Ahmadzadeh opened the scoring in the second minute of the game, when he put away a second-chance opportunity after Moslem Mesigar's shot was parried into his path.
Ahmadzadeh scored his eighth goal of the tournament early in the second period on another second-chance opportunity.
Mohammad Mokhtari then struck a unique overhead kick to give Iran a three-goal cushion.
The Italy national beach soccer team, nicknamed the Gli Azzurri, sprang into life after the interval, and forward Gabriele Gori jabbed two goals in quick succession.
The Italians’ jubilation, however, did not last long as Iran’s Mesigar scored his second of the competition less than a minute later.
Midfielder Dario Ramacciotti then brought the Gli Azzurri back to within one goal, with a well-placed and close range header.
Shortly afterwards, Ahmadzadeh completed his hat trick with a late penalty and sealed Iran’s victory.
Ahmadzadeh was awarded the golden boot, while Iranian goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini received the golden gloves after the match.
In the title game, Brazil also overwhelmed Tahiti 6-0 and finished as the champion.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has congratulated the Iranian beach soccer players and coaches on finishing third in the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and making history. He also praised the Iranian athletes on collecting the golden boot and gloves in the event.
Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Masoud Soltanifar and the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in separate messages, felicitated the outstanding achievement as well.
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