GROUP B SECOND MATCH
AUSTRALIA 3 defeated by IRAN 9
In a matched that surprised the spectators and even the Australians, the Futsalroos held Iran to 3-3 at half time before running out of legs in the second half.
With a close 4-3 win to Tajikistan over Kuwait in their Goup B, the Futsalroos went into the game knowing a loss would not be a disaster for them as Tajikistan had lost 19-2 to Iran in their first match.
Futsalroo Coach Steven Knight’s strategy was to contain the Iranians by keeping possession of the ball and use the match as game experience of the younger players. However the more experienced players were itching to take the Iranians on and gave the favourites a scare for most of the match.
Mohammadreza Zahmatkesh put Iran ahead in the fourth minute before Mohammad Taheri added a second for his side four minutes later.
Spathis kept the Australians in the match with some unbelievable saves and a counterattack in the ninth minute saw Fogarty reduce the deficit before Giovenali’s penalty kick levelled after being fouled in the box levelled the score..
Mohammad Nasrabadi put Iran ahead two minutes later but once again Australia fought back through Rogic’s 18th minute goal.
The crowd sensed a great game was in the making and a large part of the 2,000 mainly Uzbeki spectators started to support the Futsalroos. The game continued after the break with the Futsalroos content to defend and playing on the counterattack. Goals from Taheri and Zahmatkesh allowed Iran to draw ahead but Australia were still in the game until the last five minutes when while goals from Javad Asgharimoghaddam, Ali Rahnama and a Mostafa Tayyebi brace sealed the win.
The nine-time winners and current champions proved their superiority with intense futsal for the entire match which the Australians could not match.
At the post match interview, Knight was ecstatic with the Australian performance despite the final scoreline. He said once he knew the Futsalroos could not win the game, he played the younger players to give them match experience against the best team in Asia. He had special praise for Spathis but expressed satisfaction with all the players. He attributed the Iranian win to their superior fitness and ball skills.
Abbas Torabian the Chairman of Futsal of the Iranian Football Federation said his coach was surprised by the skill of the Australians. He said once they realised that the Futsalroos were forcing the Iranians to play in a small confined space in the first half, they changed their strategy to suit. The Iranian team went into camp for a month before the Championship and trained 6 days a week.
