Iran Runners-Up at 2022 AFC Futsal Asian Cup
TEHRAN – Iran lost to Japan 3-2 in the final match of the 2022 AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait on Saturday.
In the match, held at the Saad Al Abdullah Hall in Kuwait, Saied Ahmad Abbasi scored for Iran in the final moments of the first half but Kazuya Shimizu equalized the match with a brilliant right-footed shot.
Japan captain Arthur Oliveira made it 2-1 from a set-piece in the second half and Iran made so many chances but Japan goalkeeper Guilherme Kuromoto denied all efforts.
Abbasi scored an own goal in the final 30 seconds.
Iran pulled one back through Alireza Javan with a second left on the clock but it was meant to be Japan’s final to celebrate.
Uzbekistan also won the bronze by defeating Thailand 8-2 in the third-place match.
Tayebi Wins Top Scorer Award
Iran’s HUssein Tayebi won the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022 Top Scorer award.
The skipper displayed an amazing performance, scoring 10 goals in six matches.
The award is testament to Tayebi’s talent and determination, as he has maintained the fine performance that also saw him picking up the Top Scorer Award in the 2014 and 2018 editions.
The 34-year-old scored six goals in the group stage to help Iran finish top in Group C, before netting a hat-trick against Vietnam in the quarterfinals.
Tayebi then followed it up with a first minute goal against Thailand in the semi-final that laid the foundation for a 5-0 win.