Iran stunned the futsal world as they knocked reigning FIFA Futsal World Cup holders Brazil out of Colombia 2016, winning 3-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
As the game got going it felt like this was going to be a no contest, simply waiting for Brazil’s cogs to all begin moving as one, as the world champions pinned Iran back and probed for opportunities. Iran couldn’t find a way out and lacked ideas until the inevitable happened: Falcao, in what turned out to be his final game, opened the scoring.
Fresh from breaking the all-time scoring record against Mozambique, Brazil’s No12 went about extending it, netting twice, first from a crisp volley, then via a genius training ground free-kick routine, capping off Rodrigo’s pass with a cheeky back-heel.
The one-way traffic ended soon after, led by Hossein Tayebi, who capitalised after good pressing from the Iranians, before they started hammering on the door, ending the first half well on top with Brazil looking uncharacteristically like they had lost all traction.
But any false sense of security was broken when Fernandinho rattled the bar, before forcing a good save from Alireza Sammi. Iran were still very much in the game, but the balance shifted towards those in yellow.
Falcao’s spectacular bicycle kick drew oohs from the crowd as Sammi saved, and again before producing an even better save from Dieguniho’s delicate dink. However, seconds later the Sporting CP man tried it again and this time it came off.
But just as you thought things were reverting to type, Iran ended this half brightly too. Afshin Kazemi flashed home an effort to halve the deficit again, before – while utilising the power play – Ali Hassan Zadeh slammed in to equalise. Extra time beckoned.
Sammi was put to work in the first five, as Brazil pushed on hard to find a winner. They thought they had it when Falcao lifted the ball over Sammi, only for seconds later fellow captain Mohammed Keshavarz did likewise.
It went to penalties and, after Ari rattled the upright, Ahmad Esmaeuilpour hit the winner, setting up a clash with Paraguay in three days’ time.
It was Guts, skill , grace and a lot of stamina, which helped Iran to create the biggest shock of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2016 by defeating the Champions and the record title holders Brazil in a penalty shoot out. The thrilling , highly entertaining and quite engaging match ended 4-4 in regulation time. The extra time did not yield any goals. The penalty shoot out ended 3-2 for Team Melli. Brazil missed one kick while Iran scored all the three kicks.
Apart from the first part of the first half when Brazil looked superior and was threatening to run circles around Iran, the match was finely balanced and close. Despite the heroics of goalkeeper Samimi who was the man of the match for Iran, he conceded two goals due to the carelessness of his defence losing the ball in front of the goal and resulting in goals for Brazil. However, starting from Tayebi brilliant opener for Iran, until the class act of Captain and Leader Mohammad Keshavarz who scored the equalizer with a brilliant volley, Iran showed lots of resilience, skill and matched the world-class Brazilians in every department. Some of the moves and dribbling of Iranian players were highly appreciated by the local Colombians.
Iran meets Paraguay next in the Quarter Finals. Brazil bids farewell. It was a sad end for one of the Futsal icons, the great Falcao who retires from international football after a wonderful career. He made sure that he leaves at a high note scoring a hat trick against Iran in his last match.
This victory by Iran will run shock waves in the world of futsal. A loss by the six times world champion in the last 16 has not happened ever in Futsal World Cup. Iran were the underdogs but the brilliant display by the Persian warriors was a source of pride for the nation that has dominated Asian futsal for decades.
