AFC Futsal Championship: Iran blank Australia 8-0, storm into semis

AFC - Seven-time champions Iran continued their quest to regain the AFC Futsal Championship crown with a thumping 8-0 victory over Australia in the quarter-final here on Thursday.

Iran started cautiously and introduced their star players – Vahid Shamsaee and Mohammed Reza Heidarian – after five minutes. The Iranians went on the offensive but Aussie custodian Gavin O’Brien thwarted their attempts.

Majid Latifi broke the deadlock in the 15th minute and Mohammad Hashemzadeh and Babak Masoumi Daraki made it 3-0 in the next two minutes.

A quickfire double by Shamsaee in the 27th and 31st minute gave Iran full control of the game and Hashemzadeh later scored two more to complete his hat-trick while Latifi added one more to seal the fate of Australia.

Iran coach Hossein Shams said: "Attacking teams like us often leave spaces in the back but having the best goalkeeper in Asia, we were quite comfortable.”

Australian coach Scott Gilligan said: "In the second half we had to try and get some goals so we went on the offensive. Iran is a professional side while we are still learning."

In the semifinals on Friday, Iran will face Uzbekistan, who beat Tajikistan 3-1 in another quarter-final.