Champs Iran hit 17 past Malaysia futsal team

JAKARTA: Defending champions Iran handed Malaysia a lesson in futsal when they whipped them 17-0 in a one-sided Group B match in the fourth Asian Football Confederation’s futsal (five-a-side) tournament at the Istora Senayan Stadium here yesterday.

It was the second consecutive defeat for Malaysia. They had gone down 1-7 to Uzbekistan on Wednesday. Malaysia’s only win in the three-group tournament was when they scored a narrow 7-6 win over Taiwan in the opening game.

Yesterday, coach Bahwandi Hiralal’s boys were simply outclassed and trailed 0-5 in the first half. The Iranians turned on the heat after the breather to knock in a dozen more goals.

Vahid Shamsaee was the toast for Iran with seven goals. Mojtaba Ahangaran had a hattrick, Mojtaba Moeeini, Mohamed Hashem Zadeh, Majid Raisi a brace each while Ahmad Pari Azar a goal.

Group A: Thailand 4 South Korea 2, Iraq 20 Brunei 1

Group B: Iran 17 Malaysia 0