Iran Wins AFC Women’s Futsal Championship Again
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran defeated Japan 5-2 in the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship to retain its title.
A hat-trick to Sara Shirbeigi and further goals to tournament MVP Fereshteh Karimi and veteran Fahimeh Zarei sealed an outstanding victory for Sharhzad Mozafar’s side, who also won the inaugural title in Malaysia three years ago.
Japan had the better of goalless first half but failed to capitalize, before Iran produced a blistering scoring burst, that included three goals in two second-half minutes, to take the game away from Kenichiro Kogure’s side.
Mika Eguchi and Anna Amishiro scored for the Japanese side.
Three goals from Shirbeigi brought her level with teammate Fatemeh Etedadi as the tournament’s top scorer with nine.
Japan’s Amishiro also scored her ninth goal of the tournament in the final minute to create a three-way tie in the race for the tournament’s top scorer.