Tag: AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022™

Shamsaei to continue as Futsal head coach!

Iran’s national futsal team returned to Iran on Sunday from Kuwait, after losing to Japan in the finals of the 16th AFC Asian Futsal Cup. Ehsan Usooli, head of Iran’s futsal committee, who was in Kuwait with the national team, was questioned by the media at the airport who were seeking some justifications for the avoidable loss.

in response to reporters’ questions, Usooli said that  Vahid Shamsaei, the head coach, will continue to be employed according to his contract. The contract of Shamsai and his assistants with the national team is until the end of 1401 (March 2023) adding that this contract will probably be extended for another year. Shamsaei has experienced three competitions as Iran’s futsal head coach. First, in the preliminary and qualifying rounds of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup and then the Thailand Continental tournament where Iran lost to Morocco in the final, while the last one was in the appearance  AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2022 where he again tasted defeat in the final match against Japan. Currently, the Iranian national team does not have a special plan after the Asian Championship, and it seems unlikely that the Caspian tournament will be held with the participation of teams such as Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.

Usooli did not indicate if there will be an internal review of Shamsaei’s performance and failures and his suggestion that Shamsei will be continued as a head coach indicates that there will be no performance analysis.

Shamsaei in a bold but not very wise move completely overhauled the national team getting rid of most of the players that were winners of trophies at the Asian level and performed admirably at FIFA competitions. However, that was a major mistake by the relatively inexperienced coach and it meant that Iran lost its title in a match that a more experienced coach and players would have probably won easily.

Vahid Shamsaei apologizes for the defeat!

Iran’s national futsal team lost its title against fierce rival Japan in a thrilling match in Kuwait.

While Iran’s road to the final was quite smooth, scoring a plethora of goals against its opponent all the way to the finals, Japan had a difficult road and only managed to qualify from the group stages thanks to goal difference. Japan also had difficult matches against its rivals in the Quarter and Semifinals. However, in the final, Japan managed miraculously to beat Iran which had almost 70% possession, and bombarded the Japanese keeper who was the undisputed hero and the man of the game in the final match.

Iran’s head coach Vahid Shamsaei expressed his hope that his players will learn from this defeat at the press conference of this match. Shamsaei said: “I told my players that I am responsible for the defeat. They gave their best with maximum effort.” The head coach of Iran emphasized: “My players did not want to lose the trophy and were crying, but they have to accept the result. If they want to create a good future for themselves, they must understand failure.” Shamsaei continued: “We had a plan for our team, and if something goes wrong, the responsibility is on me and my colleagues. I wanted to present this win to the people of my country and I hope they will accept my apology.

About the sure performance of Iran’s Legionnaire OladGoghbad, Shamsaei said “he (OladGoghbad) was chosen as the best player of the Asian Championship: All my players were great, but he (OladGoghbad) was wonderful as always and like the rest of the players against Japan. Referring to the changes he made in his team, Iran’s head coach said: “After the loss, I don’t want to talk about the past. I have picked 10 new players to replace the 10 legends. In the very near future, these 10 new players will be legends of Iranian futsal. In the end, Shamsai said: “If I continue with the team, I will definitely work on all our weaknesses. I don’t want to make excuses or say it was a missed opportunity. Our program was not supposed to be for today. I am ashamed that I could not present a win to the people of Iran today.”

Shamsaei committed several tactical mistakes during the final game. Although Iran was the better team, the head coach failed to introduce a game plan that could penetrate the compact Japanese defenses. On his own team, the failure in defense was the reason for Iran’s inability to defend its title. It was three out of three defensive mistakes that allowed the Japanese to score two goals while Saeid Ahmad Abbasi gifted them a goal by passing the ball into his own team’s net during the powerplay!

Shamsaei in his first experience as Team Melli coach was doing fine until the final game, where he failed against a formidable defense of Japan and had no solution for their tight defending.

Iran loses the Futsal final to Japan.

the-afc.com
Kuwait City: Japan beat Iran 3-2 to lift the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022 title at the Saad Al Abdullah Hall on Saturday.
Kenichiro Kogure’s side showed tremendous grit to come from behind to reclaim the trophy they last won in 2014, taking their overall tally to four titles.
Iran, who had scored 37 goals en route to reaching the final, started as aggressively as ever with Hossein Tayebi and Alireza Rafiei Pour making early attempts at goal.

As head coach Kenichiro Kogure had anticipated, Japan were forced to play defence against Iran’s incessant pressure, with their best chances coming from counter-attacks and set-pieces.
Japan captain Arthur Oliveira, however, nearly stunned the defending champions in the eighth minute when his attempt off Soma Mizutani’s pass rocked the crossbar.

Iran almost paid a price again for their aggression a minute later after committing a foul at the edge of the box, but Oliveira’s free-kick was superbly saved by Saied Momeni.
Iran, however, continued to play their style of attacking futsal and after 15 minutes of testing Guilherme Kuromoto, Saied Ahmad Abbasi collected Mahdi Karimi’s pass and let loose a superb shot into the bottom right corner to open the scoring.
Japan, the only other team to have won the AFC Futsal Asian Cup, were unfazed and drew level a minute later when Mohammedhossein Derakhshani failed to intercept Kuromoto’s long-range throw into the final third, allowing Kazuya Shimizu to equalise with a brilliant right-footed shot.
Iran looked to close the first half strongly but Tayebi and Abbasi’s efforts were denied by Kuromoto’s quick reflexes as both sides entered the halftime break with the title still very much up for grabs.
Iran’s waves of attacks continued in the opening minutes of the second half with Abbasi and Moslem Oladghobad forcing parries out of Kuromoto in the opening minutes but Rafiei Pour’s foul on Shimizu in the 27th minute gave Japan a lifeline.

Oliveira stepped up to take the free-kick and the skipper made no mistake as he smashed his effort home to put Japan ahead for the first time.
The goal stunned Iran – who had only conceded two goals in their previous five matches – into action as they increased the intensity of their attacks in search of the equaliser.

Iran would have equalised moments later through Abbasi’s strike if it weren’t for Kuromoto’s fine save, with the keeper standing tall against Salar Aghapour’s effort in the 29th minute to maintain Japan’s  lead.
With the clock ticking, Iran head coach Vahid Shamsaee employed power play for the first time in Iran’s campaign with Tayebi donning the keeper’s jersey in the 36th minute.

Tayebi came closest in the 39th minute with his strike deflecting off the upright but there was to be more woe for Iran with Abbasi slotting the ball into the back of his own net in the final 30 seconds.

Iran pulled one back through Alireza Javan Shahkali with a second left on the clock but it was meant to be Japan’s final to celebrate.

Futsal Team Melli on a roll, defeats Thailand in the semifinals.

Iran breezed to a 5-0 win over Thailand in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022 semi-final on Thursday.
The win took Iran to within one match of lifting the title for a record-extending 13th time with Japan – the only other team to have won the coveted crown – awaiting them in Saturday’s final.
Iran enjoyed the best of starts as they opened the scoring as early as the first minute when skipper Hossein Tayyebi collected goalkeeper Saeid Momeni’s long-range pass at the edge of the box to smash home his 10th goal of the tournament.
Despite the early setback, Thailand kept their cool and carried on with their game plan, luring Iran into their own half before launching crosses into the final third, but the defending champions were quick on their feet to protect Momeni’s goalmouth.

Iran, however, were the more dangerous side and nearly doubled their lead in the sixth minute when a series of quick exchanges in the box baffled the Thai defence, but Mohammadhossein Bazyar couldn’t get his strike on target.
Charoondej Muenthiang, one of Thailand’s key players with his speed, had several efforts but none troubled Momeni.

At the other end, Thailand custodian Katawut Hankampa denied Tayebi and Mohammadhossein Derakhshani in the closing minutes of the first half to keep his team in the match going into the break.
Iran stepped up a gear in the second half and doubled their lead in the 22nd minute with Derakhshani heading home Salar Aghapour’s cross from close range.

Two turned to three in the 24th minute when Alireza Rafiei Pour intercepted a pass, before teeing up Moslem Oladghobad (pictured below), who scored from almost 20 meters out.
Thailand should have pulled one back three minutes later when Muenthiang collected a loose ball before sending it to Jetsada Chudech who – with only the keeper to beat – slammed his effort straight into Momeni.

Iran were not as wasteful and they found their fourth in the 27th minute through Oladghobad’s strike from a kick-in set-piece, before Derakhshani netted his second goal a minute later, courtesy of Aghapour’s sublime assist.

With a mountain to climb, Thailand head coach Carlos Cesar Gago initiated power play with Panut Kittipanuwong coming off the bench in the 29th minute, but there was not to be even a consolation as Iran cruised into the final.

Team effort powered Iran to semis, says captain Tayyebi

the-afc.com
Wednesday 05 October 2022
Kuwait City:

Captain Hossein Tayyebi credited outstanding teamwork for powering Iran into the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022 semi-finals. 
Tayebi, who starred with his second hat-trick of the tournament, was among six Iranian players on target in the 8-1 quarter-final win against Vietnam on Tuesday. 

#ACFutsal2022 – Quarter-finals | Islamic Republic of Iran 8 – 1 Vietnam

Tayebi was quick to praise his team, stating that his teammates – many of whom are young and inexperienced at the continental level – can only improve as the tournament progresses.

“In my opinion, the whole team should be selected as the MVP. We are all following the coach’s guidance and I’m very happy with the result,” said Tayyebi.
“I would like to say that this is a different team, 90 percent of them are playing for the first time in this tournament. I’m very sure that we will get much better with every game.

“I insist that it wasn’t just me, but a team effort, I only had the chance to finish. This is the Iran team, scoring goals for Iran, which is our concept. However, we are young and moving forward in our defence of our title.”
Head coach Vahid Shamsaei hailed the veteran Iranian skipper for his leadership in guiding Iran’s new generation of players.

“Hossein is a really good leader for the team, and all the players respect him,” said Shamsaei.

“Hossein always tries to be the mentor among the players. He’s our international player, and that’s what we expect to see from him.”

Worasak: Thailand not afraid of defending champions

the-afc.com
Wednesday  o5 October 2022
Kuwait City:
Match winner Worasak Srirangpirot insists Thailand have no fear of semi-final opponents Iran following their 3-2 win against Tajikistan in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022 quarter-finals on Tuesday.
With 42 seconds on the clock and the game tied at 2-2, Thailand needed a last-gasp intervention from Worasak to secure a thrilling victory.
Worasak, who started the game from the bench, scored his third goal of the tournament after collecting a pass from Sarawut Phalaphruek at the edge of the area, beating Tajikistan captain Dilshod Salomov on the turn before squeezing his shot past keeper Firuz Bozmamadov.
“Congratulations to Tajikistan for playing a good game,” said Worasak, who was named Player of the Match. “They are a strong and skillful team. I knew from the start that we would be tested. We started the game really slow but we improved as the match progressed.”

“It was a tight contest with the score at 2-2, however, the players have a good understanding. We are always encouraging each other. In the end, we scored the winner and we’re in the semi-finals.

“I want to express my gratitude to the Thailand fans, they motivated us throughout the match and since our first game here in Kuwait.”

Thailand will now face the toughest of opponents in Iran but Worasak said the players are not worried about facing the 12-time champions.
“Iran are only slightly better than us. We faced Iran in a friendly before the tournament. In fact, we almost beat them. Iran were leading by two goals but we struck twice to level the score. If it was not for a last-minute goal, we would have beaten them.”
“We are confident of beating them and Iran should feel the pressure, not us.”

Iran turns on the style against Vietnam

the-afc.com
Kuwait City 04 Oct. 2022 

Iran edged closer to a record-extending 13th AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ title after an impressive 8-1 win over Vietnam in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. 
Iran, who scored their fourth consecutive victory en route to making the Kuwait 2022 semi-finals, will face Thailand – who defeated Tajikistan 3-2 – next.

Just as Iran head coach Vahid Shamsaee had predicted, Vietnam adopted a defensive approach but the defending champions wasted no time in testing goalkeeper Ho Van Y through Salar Aghapour and Hossein Tayebi’s early efforts.

Ho then denied Saeid Ahmad Abbasi and Mohammadhossein Bazyar in the fifth and sixth minutes respectively to keep his side in the game.

The Vietnam keeper, however, could do little to stop Tayebi’s incredible strike in the seventh minute, with the Iran skipper volleying home Moslem Oladghobad’s corner-kick for a deserved lead.

Iran, who scored a whopping 24 goals to top Group C, displayed their attacking brilliance in the 10th minute when Abbasi teed up Aghapour (pictured above), who let loose a scorching right-footed strike from over 20 metres out into the top right corner, before Alireza Rafiei Pour (pictured below) drilled home their third goal moments later from a corner-kick set-piece.

Vietnam could have been further adrift in the 11th minute after committing their sixth foul, but Alireza Javan failed to convert from the second penalty spot.

Desperate to stay in the game, Vietnam initiated power play in the 11th minute but found no openings to exploit.

Instead, Iran further widened their lead in the 16th minute when Oladghobad intercepted a pass before relaying it to Tayebi to place the ball in an empty goalmouth.

Vietnam, forced to play on the counter-attack, had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit  in the 24th minute when Rafiei Pour was penalised for handling the ball at the edge of the box, but the Southeast Asians failed to capitalise.

At the other end, there was no stopping Iran, with Bazyar converting a corner-kick from close range effort in the 25th minute, before Oladghobad’s left-footed strike beat Ho a minute later to make it 6-0.

Vietnam tried to limit the damage by pressing the Iranians with man-to-man marking, but Tayebi completed his hat-trick in the 33rd minute after Abbasi’s initial shot deflected off the upright.

Abbasi netted the eighth three minutes later with Vietnam then scoring a consolation – amazingly only the second goal Iran have conceded in the tournament – through Pham Duc Hoa.

Group C: Iran end group stage with another sizzling show

the-afc.com
Sunday, 02 October 2022
Kuwait City:  Defending champions Iran defeated Lebanon 9-0 to end their AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022  Group C campaign with a perfect record of three wins on Sunday.
The 12-time champions will face Vietnam in the quarter-finals, having booked their place in the knockout stage with a match to spare.
Iran were left frustrated by Lebanon’s early resistance with the West Asians threatening in the third minute through Fadi Greij’s shot, while at the other end Saeid Ahmad Abbasi did well to control Saeid Momen’s long throw but hit his half-volley high above the bar.
Iran gradually took control with Hossein Tayebibidgoli missing the target from just inside the box before Mohammadhossein Bazyar’s forced effort off a corner was easily collected by Lebanon keeper Karim Joueidi.
Iran finally broke the deadlock in the eighth minute with Salar Aghapour netting a beautiful individual effort, shooting into the top right corner.
Alireza Shahkhali was twice denied by the bar before he set up Tayebibidgoli in the 17th minute for the second goal, with Mustafa Rhyem then scoring an own goal.
Lebanon suffered more woe after Mouhammad Hammoud was forced out of the game through injury in the 18th minute, with Moslem Oladghobad then adding Iran’s fourth from distance.
There was no denying Iran’s superiority as they scored their fifth goal a minute into the restart through Bahman Jafari’s long-range effort before Oladghobad netted again seven minutes later.
Bahman Jafari’s long-range effort before Oladghobad netted again seven minutes later.
Lebanon tried to stem the tide but their efforts fell flat as Iran stretched their lead in the 27th minute with Mahdi Karimi scoring from the halfway line into an unattended goalmouth before Aghapour added his second goal five minutes later from close range.
Tayebibidgoli capped the victory in the 39th minute, beating two defenders on the turn before slotting home.

Group C

RANK TEAM P W D L F A GD PTS
1
IRAN
 3 3 0 0 24 1 23 9
2
INDONESIA
 3 2 0 1 11 8 3 6
3
CHINESE TAIPEI
 3 0 1 2 3 15 -12 1
4
LEBANON
 3 0 1 2 3 17 -14 1

Futsal: Classy IR Iran cruise into quarter-finals

The AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022™, continued this Friday evening with Team Melli Futsal Playing Chinese Taipei in Saad Al Abdullah Hall, Kuwait.

With the biggest win of the championship so far, Iran confirmed their place in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022 knockout stage after cruising 10-1

Iran, who defeated Indonesia 5-0 in their opener, burst into action from the first blow of the whistle with Hossein Tayebibidgoli and Mohammadhossein Bazyar just missing the target from above the area.
SAEED AHMAD-ABBAS
Alireza Rafiei Pour forced Fu Li-wei into a diving save in the second minute before the Chinese Taipei keeper conceded moments later with Bazyar finding the back of the net off Moslem Oladghobad’s layoff.
Iran were just getting started with Tayebibidgoli etching his name on the scoresheet in the third minute, finishing off Oladghobad’s assist.
Chinese Taipei had a rare chance a minute later with captain Chi Sheng-fa bursting down the left flank, but his effort to get a cross into the danger area was foiled by Mahdi Karimi.
Chinese Taipei were no match for Iran’s brilliance as the Central Asian side scored their third goal after Salar Aghapour found an unmarked Saeid Ahmad Abbasi (pictured above), who finished with ease from close range.

Tayebibidgoli picked up his second goal of the evening in the 16th minute, scoring a volley off Oladghobad’s kick-in, before Ahmad Abbasi put Iran 5-0 up a minute later.
Chinese Taipei tried to mount a fightback but paid dearly as Iran caught them off a counter-attack with Ahmad Abbasi completing his hat-trick two minutes from the half-time whistle.
Iran grabbed their seventh goal two minutes into the restart with Tayebibidgoli threatening from the left flank before the two-time AFC Futsal Asian Cup Top Scorer sent an inviting lob for Aghapour to finish.
Chinese Taipei tried to push  forward again but their efforts were cut short with Alireza Javan Shahkhali collecting the loose ball before squeezing a shot past Fu Li-wei in the 28th minute.
However, Chinese Taipei’s determination was finally rewarded when they found an opening in the 31st minute with He Chia-chen scoring from inside the box, finishing off Chi Sheng-fa’s pass.
There was no letting up from Iran as they continued to pressure their opponents with Karimi finding the net in the 35th minute before Ahmad Abbasi scored his side’s 10th goal a minute later.

Iran plays Lebanon next, while Chinese Taipei faces a must-win tie against Indonesia on Sunday.

Controversy follows Iran’s Futsal team as it arrives in Kuwait for the AFC Asian Futsal Cup.

Iran’s national futsal team left for Kuwait, the venue of the 16th AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022™. The sending-off occurred after the end of the training camp on Friday but the event was not without contention in Tehran.

Mohammad Reza Sangsafidi’s and Mostafa Nazari, the goalkeepers’ coach were forced to drop out of the squad indicateing the existence of internal disparities before departure to Kuwait. The uncertainty of Sangsafidi’s exclusion from the squad is still not completely clear. There are conflicting views between the player and the coach. Mehr reporter’s follow-ups show that this player has been left out by Vahid Shamsaei based on medical reports and due to a long-term injury. Of course, the player claimed in an interview that he is not injured. The FFIRI has not provided an explanation for the exclusion of a key team player from the squad.

There was more controversy to follow after the omission of Mostafa Nazari, the former Team Melli Goalkeeper and current coach from the team. The Football Federation announced in a one liner that Nazari’s absence in Kuwait was a decision by Vahid Shamsai, but provided no further details on the circumstances and how is it that the defending champion will be playing without a Goalkeepers coach in the competition. Privately it is said that the reason for these decisions was the conflict between the two parties with Nazari accusing and Shamsaei of leaving him out of technical decisions and ignoring his views.

After being excluded from the national team, Nazari, who already has been issued a Kuwaiti visa, reacted to his exclusion by publishing a message on his Instagram and writing a sarcastic message aimed at Shamsaei.

Once again, the FFIRI finds itself in a turmoil and war of attritions. It is not expected that Taj will add quality or anything of value to this administration. After the drama of Team Melli, now it is the turn of the Futsal’s Team Melli. It not because there is a curse, nor it is bad lack or the enemies of the regieme at work, these are also self-inflicted and the end result of one fundementl issue in Iran. Poor management and inefficient leadership leading to the induction of shaky and dodgy characters in the Iranian football system.