Dubai: Moslem Mesigar and Mohammad Ali Mokhtari scored a double apiece as Iran lifted the AFC Beach Soccer title for a second time with a 7-2 rout of the UAE in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, on Saturday.
Both nations will head to next month’s Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup to be held in the Bahamas along with Japan, who earlier secured the third spot with a 6-3 result against Lebanon. Both nations will now begin preparations for their campaign in the Bahamas, where they could potentially come face to face once more.
Iran led two minutes in when Mesigar turned and sent a bobbling effort past Mohammad Abdullah before goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini doubled the advantage. UAE steeled themselves and went close when Ali Mohammad struck the post but they fell further behind when tournament top scorer and MVP Mokhtari tucked away a set-piece.
The UAE would continue to ask questions of Iran in the second period but a lapse in concentration allowed Mesigar to glance in Iran’s fourth unmarked after a quick throw from the goalkeeper. Hosseini’s opposite number Humaid Jamal got UAE on the board with an inch-perfect strike before Haitham Mohammad bundled in his side’s second to make life awkward for Iran, only for Amir Akbari to slot in a free-kick less than a minute before the final period.
The latter stages began in relatively low-key fashion — Akbari’s strike having seemingly deflated the UAE — and things were made more difficult for the men in white when Ali Nazem added a sixth. A second from Mokhtari — again from a free-kick — then sealed what proved a relatively comfortable win in the end, Iran ensuring they will head to the Bahamas as Asian champions.
RESULTS
Final: Iran 7 UAE 2
Third place: Japan 6 Lebanon 3
