In a quarterfinal showdown on Sunday morning, Iran’s national men’s futsal team got the better of Paraguayan rivals 4-3 and secured its place among the top four teams of the tournament.
The two teams offered a neck and neck performance during the fixture as no goals were netted early into the match. Meanwhile, it was the South American team who found the net in the 12th minute when Iran started mounting an all-out attack on Paraguay.
Enjoying high spirits as a results of their impressive triumph over power house Brazil, the Persians managed to equalize only a few minutes later.
Much to Iran’s chagrin, Paraguayans scored their second goals only one minute before the first interval wrapped up.
Iran leveled the result soon after the second half had kicked off and both teams continued efforts to add to their tally of goals with Iran having the upper hand.
Mohammad Nazemosharia’s boys took great advantage of the opportunity offered to them after one member of the Paraguayan received a red card and scored a precious goal late into the match.
The South American team refused to give up and scored an equalizer. In the extra times, however, it was Esmaeilpour who netted a decisive goal to conclude the second half and the match in Iran’s favor.
Accordingly, Paraguay suffered a 3-4 defeat in the hands of Iran who will take on Russia in a semifinal match to take place on Wednesday in the Colombian city of Medellín.
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