News / Sports

Iran beats Afghanistan 8-2 in 2018 AFC Futsal Championship qualifier

Monday, 16 October 2017 7:38 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 16 October 2017 7:40 AM ]

Iran men’s national futsal team (file photo)

Iran men’s national futsal team has recorded a deserved victory in the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championship qualification tournament, defeating Afghanistan in its opening match.

On Sunday evening, the Iranian squad, domestically known as Team Melli Futsal, celebrated an 8-2 win over the Afghan team at the end of a Group B fixture of the South & Central Zone in Shahid Poursharifi Arena of the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz.

The white clad Iranian players started the match in a dominant fashion, and forward Mahdi Javid managed to open the scoring in the second minute.

Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh Navlighi, who currently plays for Sanaye Giti Pasand club in the Iranian Futsal Super League, doubled Iran’s lead three minutes later, before he made it 3-0 in the 7^th minute.

Afghans then sought to narrow the deficit; and Akbar Kazemi netted the first goal for the Lions of Khorasan in the eighth minute.

Shahab Talebi jabbed Iran’s fourth goal in the 15^th minute, after which Javid his second goal of the day to give Team Melli Futsal a 5-1 lead.

Iran’s Saeed Ahmadabbasi found the back of the net in the 19^th minute.

In the 21^st minute, Hussain Khaedmi hit the back of the net and scored Afghanistan’s second goal.

Javid scored a hat trick in the 28^th minute and Hassanzadeh netted his third a minute later.

Team Melli Futsal is scheduled to face the Tajikistan national futsal team on Tuesday.

Asian powerhouse Iran is pitted against Afghanistan and Tajikistan in Group B of the South & Central Zone of the 2018 AFC Futsal Championship qualification.

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