Islamic Republic of Iran claimed the inaugural AFC U-20 Futsal Championship title with 2-0 win over Iraq. Iran: REZAPOUR 4’, ALI 10’ (OG)

An ecstatic Islamic Republic of Iran claimed the inaugural AFC U-20 Futsal Championship title on Friday thanks to a narrow 2-0 win over Iraq at the Bangkok Arena.

The victory was Iran’s seventh straight success at the tournament, an imperious run of form that leaves the country proud owners of both the U-20 and senior AFC Futsal Championship crowns.

With all to play for and a large measure of national pride on the line, it was to be Sahand Rezapour who opened the scoring for Iran in the fourth minute, before Iraq - who were playing more offensively compared to their recent matches - came close to restoring parity through a Moamin Fawzi free-kick which goalkeeper Abolfazi Shabazi did well to save.

However, disaster was to strike for Iraq shortly after, Zaid Ali’s seemingly innocuous tackle somehow finding its way into his own goal to hand the Iranians a two-goal advantage midway through the first half.

Iran defended resolutely and maintained their lead going into the break, with Mohammad Jame and skipper Touhid Lotfi’s excellent partnership in the final third then threatening to put the game beyond Iraq after the restart.

With time running out, Iraq head coach Ali Talib’s side switched to a power play, a bold move that came close to reaping dividends and providing a glimmer of hope when Hasan Kadhim’s last minute shot fizzed narrowly wide.

However, it was not to be as an impressive Iran resolutely held on to seal the title and emphatically underline the country’s futsal prowess.

The finalists for #AFCU20FC are all set now!

NEROCA FC scripts historic win to break into I league top flight by winning the Second division I league

AFC U-20 FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP:FT: Indonesia 🇮🇩 2 - 4 Thailand 🇹🇭 Thailand beat Indonesia to seal spot in #AFCU20FC semi-finals!

India U-17 register a historic win against Italy U-17

.India U-17 world cup squad secured a historic 2-0 win over a strong U-17 Youth Team of Italy in Arizo, Italy on Friday, 19th May 2017. The win would surely act as a huge boost for the Blue Tigers.

All India Football Federation(AIFF) has been providing rigorous exposure trips to the U-17 World Cup Squad for the last couple of years, all in an effort to field a competitive Team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which is slated to kick-off later this year.

Strikes by Abhijit Sarkar (31’) and Rahul Praveen (80’) led the Indian U-17 World Cup Team to a massive win over the ‘Azzuri’ in a match largely dominated by the Indian Colts in terms of possession and chances created.

The Colts got off the blocks in Italy and gave the opposition a tough time early on. Komal Thatal’s 8th minute strike went whiskers past the Italian custodian as India hunted in packs for an early lead. In the 13th minute, Aniket came close to opening the goal scoring charts for India but his effort went straight down the keeper’s throat resulting in an easy save.

In the 31st minute however, the goal for the Indian Colts came when Abhijit Sarkar’s cross took a wicked deflection off the Italian defence line and ended up in the back of the opposition net to give India the lead.

After India led 1-0 at half-time, the Colts searched to extend the their lead and safeguard the result. In the 59thminute, Aniket missed a one versus one chance against the Italian goalkeeper after he rounded the opposition custodian up but failed to convert.

Rahul in the 75th minute came close to scoring when he failed to tap the ball home from handshaking distance after Aniket’s shot had earned an uncanny save by the Italian custodian.

Goal scoring chances every now and then had to bear fruits and it did for the Indian Colts in the 80th minute when Rahul scored from inside the box to double India’s lead as the scoreline read 2-0.

The full-time scoreline read the same as the Indian U-17 World Cup Team registered a historic feat in Indian Football

AFC Asian Cup qualifier: Malaysia hope for neutral venue for North Korea qualifier

Malaysia still hopes its postponed Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea can be played at a neutral venue despite an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ruling to postpone the highly sensitive match yet again – this time until October.

The AFC has twice delayed the fixture from its original March 28 date, the latest time because of “geo-political tension on the Korean Peninsula”.

The game has now been delayed until October 5, with the AFC still to make a decision on whether it will be played in the North Korean capital or in a neutral venue.

“I think we are happy to postpone this game because of the overall situation and we will wait until October to have it settled,” Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) General Secretary Hamidin Mohd Amin told Reuters. “If we can get it back to a neutral venue then it’s better for both teams, and that’s ok. It’s better for both. Our position is that we will follow the AFC because the AFC handles the whole competition.”

The game was originally postponed due to tensions between the two nations in the aftermath of the killing of Kim Jong-nam, estranged elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at Kuala Lumpur’s international airport in late February.

FAM president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (pictured) last week questioned whether the safety of his players and officials could be guaranteed in North Korea and launched an appeal to the AFC, who are based in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

“I’m very concerned about the safety assurance regarding the accommodation provided and the food,” he posted on the FAM’s Facebook page at the time. “According to the information I have received we need to bring our own food due to the possibility of sabotage.”

Malaysia face forfeiting the game 3-0 if they refuse to play what is effectively their first fixture in the 2019 Asian Cup’s final round of qualifying.

AFC U-20 FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHDAY THREE RESULTS & REPORTS

Bangkok: All the results and reports from Matchday Three of the inaugural AFC U-20 Futsal Championship in Thailand. 
Matchday Three: Fixtures for Wednesday, May 18 (all times local)
Bangkok Arena
Group A
Bahrain 1-6 Malaysia

Afghanistan 3-4 Iraq

Thailand 10-0 Brunei DS

Group B
Vietnam 1-1 Indonesia

Japan 5-5 Tajikistan

Group C
Uzbekistan 8-2 Hong Kong

Qatar 2-6 Myanmar

Group D
Iran 5-1 UAE

Kyrgyz Republic 2-2 Mongolia

Matchday Four: Fixtures for Thursday, May 19 (all times local)
Bangkok Arena
Group C
Qatar v Hong Kong
Kick-off: 1100 hours
Lebanon v Uzbekistan
Kick-off: 1300 hours
Group A
Iraq v Malaysia
Kick-off: 1500 hours
Brunei Darussalam v Bahrain
Kick-off: 1700
Afghanistan v Thailand
Kick-off: 1900 hours
Hua Mark Indoor Stadium
Group D
Kyrgyz Republic v UAE
Kick-off: 1100 hours
China PR v Iran
Kick-off: 1300 hours
Group B
Japan v Indonesia
Kick-off: 1500 hours
Chinese Taipei v Vietnam
Kick-off: 1700 hours

INAUGURAL AFC U-20 FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDERWAY IN BANGKOK

The inaugural edition of  AFC U-20 FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP got underway in Thailand as Lebanon and Qatar locked horns in the opening day encounter at Bangkok Arena.Lebanon dominated the game most of the first half and with the virtue of an early goal went through the first half with a comfortable 2-0 margin and a second half goal helped Lebanon cruise to a 3-0 win as Qatar looked to gain momentum in second half but failed to get their passes going and Lebanon cruised home with all points in the bag.
In the second match of the day Hong Kong took on Myanmar and Myanmar opened the scoring in first half as they dominated the play with quick interchange and used the court well as Hong Kong looked to sit back and rely on mistakes from Myanmar attackers but Myanmar looked nicely composed in their shape as moved up and down the court and took control of the game from the start and looked better side.
In the second half, Hong Kong snared the attacking play of Myanmar and equalized early into the second half to make it 1-1.As the match looked to end in a draw in the dying minutes Hong Kong pressed forward and Myanmar conceded a free kick just outside the penalty area .Hong Kong made most of the free kick as they smashed home the winner in the dying minutes of the match snatching a win that looked unlikely in the opening stages of the game.
In the following game Iraq cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Bahrain and Afghanistan clashed with Brunei DS and Afghanistan started their onslaught early leading 4-1 at half time but completely annihilated Brunei in second for a mammoth win 14-1 margin.
Last game of the day saw home favorite Thailand taking on Malaysian side in front of a healthy crowd.It was end to end battle as both sides looked to gain control of the game.Thailand opened the scoring in first half from break to make it 1-0 at the break.In the second half Thailand turned up the tempo and made it 3-0 but Malaysia pulled couple of goals back and made it 3-2, sniffing a chance to equalize Malaysia went all attack with advance goalkeeper in last couple of minutes and ended up conceding 2 quick goals giving the hosts a comfortable 2-5 win.

AIFF Releases final fixture for Federation Cup 2017 as 8 teams fights for supremacy from May 7th to 21 at Cuttack,Orissa