Iran reach last eight, Malaysia out

JAKARTA: Defending champions Iran are through to the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation’s futsal (five-a-side) tournament after scoring their third straight win, thrashing Taiwan 16-1 in their last Group B match at the Istora Senayan Stadium here yesterday. 

Fancied Iran had defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 in the opening game and whitewashed Malaysia 17-0. Malaysia are out of the race after a win and two defeats. The Malaysians were also beaten 1-7 by Uzbekistan and their only win was against Taiwan (7-6) in the first game on Tuesday. 

Uzbekistan, last year’s runners-up, are expected to join Iran in the next round. Uzbekistan will play Taiwan in the last game today. 

Only the top two teams from Group B will advance to the quarter-finals. The five-team Group A and Group C will see three qualifiers each. 

RESULTS 

Group A: Bahrain 1 Iraq 9, South Korea 11 Brunei 2. 

Group B: Iran 16 Taiwan 1. 

Group C: Indonesia 3 Kyrgyzstan 3.