- For the first time in tournament history, all semi-finalists are from different confederations
THE DAY REPLAYED – Iran qualified for their first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling win in extra time against Switzerland, while experienced sides Tahiti, Brazil and Italy also booked tickets to the last four.
Iran advanced to the semi-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup for the first time in their history with a thrilling 4-3 win after extra time against Switzerland.
- Iran qualify for semi-finals at Beach Soccer World Cup for first time
- Iran goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini made several saves late in the match
- Iran will meet Tahiti in the semi-finals
Iran captain Mohammad Ahmadzadeh scored the opening goal of the match with an overhead kick. He then put Iran two goals in front with a superb, one-time volley straight out of the air directly from a throw-in.
Switzerland then sprung to life and came all the way back from two goals down to take a 3-2 lead in the second period. The country’s all-time top scorer in the tournament Dejan Stankovic started their resurgence with a flicked finish. Glenn Hodel then scored a pair of goals to give the Swiss a one-goal lead.
With less than a minute on the clock, Ali Nazem scored a clutch goal for Iran to force the match into extra time. Iran then made history when Mohammed Mokhtari redirected Amir Akbari’s shot into the net to score the winning goal.
Iran will now face Tahiti in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Four-time champions Brazil needed a stunning overhead kick in the final two minutes of the match to see them edge past champions Portugal.
Portugal 2015 runners-up Tahiti had to work hard against Paraguay, but late strikes from Heiarii Tavanae and Patrick Tepa helped seal their progression to Saturday’s semi-finals.
Italy’s 5-1 win over Senegal was the most dominant performance of the evening. Coach Massimo Agostini’s side were boosted b top scorer Gabriele Gori (14), who appears as if he’ll never stop scoring in the Bahamas.
