Courtesy: Press TV


FIFA Futsal World Cup: Iran defeats Paraguay to reach semifinals

Sun Sep 25, 2016

Iran have reached the semifinals of the 2016 Futsal World Cup for the 1st time since 1992, following a 4-3 victory over Paraguay in Colombia.

Iran were on the front foot in the early stages of the game on Saturday, but it was Paraguay who opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Francisco Martinez.

Iran pressed for an equalizer and found it 3 minutes later when Ahmad Esmaeilpour fired a powerful strike into the back of the net to make it 1-all.

The South Americans took the lead again just before halftime as Juan Salas himself bundled the ball in at the back post. But Iran pulled level once more, this time through Mahdi Javid.

The Iranians moved ahead for the first time in the game in the 36th minute as Javid scored his second goal of the night to make it 3-2, but Rene Villalba, sporting the keeper’s shirt, fired a low free-kick to take it to extra time.

And it was Esmaeilpour who hammered home from close range with 23 seconds to go to secure Iran a precious 4-3 victory.



Courtesy: Press TV


Iran beats Paraguay 4-3 to reach Futsal World Cup semis

Sat Sep 24, 2016

Iran’s men’s national Futsal team have beaten Paraguay 4-3 to advance to the semifinals of FIFA Futsal World Cup 2016.

The Iranian squad met the Paraguayan team on the early hours of Sunday in Colombia’s Coliseo Bicentenario stadium in the first match of the event’s quarter final round.

The game was tied 3-3 until the dying seconds of the second extra time when Iran’s Ahmad Esmaeilpour scored the winner.

Iran will take on Russia for the final on September 27.

On Tuesday, Iran shocked Futsal fans by knocking the reigning title defender Brazil out of the tourney in penalty shootouts after a 3-3 draw

The last time Iran reached semifinals was in 1992.

The eighths edition of the Futsal World Cup kicked off on September 10 and will come to an end on October 1.




Courtesy: Latin American Herald Tribune


Iran Downs Paraguay 4-3 in Futsal World Cup Quarterfinals

BUCARAMANGA, Colombia – Iran defeated Paraguay 4-3 in a quarterfinal match in the Futsal World Cup competition in Colombia on Saturday, thus moving to the semifinals.

Scoring for Iran were Ahmad Esmaeilpour and Mahdi Javid, with two goals each, and Francisco Martinez, Juan Salas and Rene Villalba for Paraguay.

Last Tuesday, the Iranian national Futsal team shocked five-time champion Brazil in a penalty shootout.

The Iranians will now go up against the winner of the Russia-Spain quarterfinals matchup, also on Saturday.

The 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup tourney, the eighth edition of the tournament, opened in several Colombian cities on Sept. 10 and will run until Oct. 1.

On Sunday, Argentina will square off against Egypt in Medellin and Azerbaijan will play Portugal in Cali.



Courtesy: Mehr News


National futsal team cruises to semifinal

TEHRAN, Sep. 25 (MNA) – Iran’s futsal squad, who had earlier gained an epic victory over Brazil, defeated Paraguay to reach semifinals of 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia.
In a quarterfinal showdown on Sunday morning, Iran’s national men’s futsal team got the better of Paraguayan rivals 4-3 and secured its place among the top four teams of the tournament.

The two teams offered a neck and neck performance during the fixture as no goals were netted early into the match. Meanwhile, it was the South American team who found the net in the 12th minute when Iran started mounting an all-out attack on Paraguay.

Enjoying high spirits as a results of their impressive triumph over power house Brazil, the Persians managed to equalize only a few minutes later.

Much to Iran’s chagrin, Paraguayans scored their second goals only one minute before the first interval wrapped up.

Iran leveled the result soon after the second half had kicked off and both teams continued efforts to add to their tally of goals with Iran having the upper hand.

Mohammad Nazemosharia’s boys took great advantage of the opportunity offered to them after one member of the Paraguayan received a red card and scored a precious goal late into the match.

The South American team refused to give up and scored an equalizer. In the extra times, however, it was Esmaeilpour who netted a decisive goal to conclude the second half and the match in Iran’s favor.

Accordingly, Paraguay suffered a 3-4 defeat in the hands of Iran who will take on Russia in a semifinal match to take place on Wednesday in the Colombian city of Medellín.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com