2024 Beach Soccer World Cup: Iran Fights Back to Beat Spain
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran came from behind to snatch victory in a thrilling Group B tie which Spain seemed to have won after taking a 5-2 lead.
The European side shocked Iran by taking the lead just seconds into the match, with David Ardil finding the net with a scorcher.
Iran tried its best to bounce back, but Chiky doubled Spain's lead with a free-kick goal in the seventh minute with Ardil then scoring his second of the evening just before the 10th minute mark, the-afc.com reported.
Moslem Mesigar, however, pulled one back just before the break to give Iran, who finished third in 2017, hope.
A fired up Iran appeared for the second period and its aggressive approach paid off in the third minute with Mohammad Mokhtari further narrowing the deficit.
Spain, however, was fast to respond with Kuman and Jose Arias restoring a healthy cushion but Iran kept coming and scored its third through Mokhtari in the 11th minute of the second period.
Iran pushed hard in the third period and its efforts was rewarded midway through when it received a penalty, with Mokhtari converting to set the stage for a grandstand finish.
Mokhtari, again, was the one to deliver, scoring Iran's equalizer with just over a minute left on the clock to force the game into a fourth period.
Reza Amiri put Iran ahead for the first time in the match seconds into extra-time but Chiky drew Spain level just before the final whistle.
The Central Asian side, however, was more clinical in the shootout to grab a 3-1 win and will face Argentina on Saturday.