IRNA - Defending Asian futsal champion Iran held
the world No. 1 Spain in a friendly here on Tuesday.
In front of some 2,500 Spanish spectators, Iran and Spain struggled to a 2-2 draw.
The first half ended nil-nil but the two sides hit two each after the break.
Spain scored the opener in the 24th minute and made it 2-0 six minutes later and at the same moment Iran was reduced to four men as
the referee sent off top Asian goalscorer Vahid Shamsaei.
Unlike everybody's expectation, the Iranian side fought back and scored in the 31st minute by Mojtaba Moini.
Siamak Dadashi of Iran stunned the Spanish camp when he grabbed the equalizer three minutes later.
On Monday, Iran lost its first friendly against Spain.
Iranian indoor footballers played a crowd-pleasing game but lost to the world champion.
In front of some 5,000 home fans in a Santander hall, northern Spain, the host defeated the Iranian team 6-2.
Iran played cautiously in the first half and lost 4-1 as top goalscorer of Asia, Vahid Shamsaei, scored the sole goal in the 17th
minute. Spain slotted home in the 16th, 18, 19th, and 23rd minutes.
After the break, Iran had a better performance and managed to grab the second in the 5th minute of the second half when Shamsaei
netted but this was Javier Sanchez who hit two in the second and fourth minutes. Spectators cheered Iranian players for their high
skills.
Spain has so far succeeded in lifting the world title once and the European trophy twice and Iran is the four-times champion of Asia.
Match details:
Spain vs Iran 2-2 (0-0)
Place: La Rioja
Day: 29/4/2003
Hour: 20:00
Hall: Pabellon Municipal de La Rioja
Attendence: 3.500
SPAIN: Starting five - Sergio, Fran Serrejón, Kike, Edesio, Javi
Sánchez. Substitutions: Santi, Torras, Justo Cáceres, Andreu, Cogorro,
Merino, Rafa.
Coach: Javier Lozano
IRAN: Starting five - Nasseri, Arani, Vahid Shamsaee, Heidarian,
Dadashi. Substitutions: Shandizi, Mohammady, Azar, Abrarinia, Ahangaran,
Reissi, Zadeh.
Coach: Mohammad Hassan Ansarifard
Scorers:
24° Torras (1-0)
30° Andreu (2-0)
31° Dadashi (2-1)
35° Moceni (2-2)
Referee: Pedro Galan Nieto
Second Referee: Ramon Blanco Nuno
Third Referee: n/a
Timekeeper: n/a
Cautions: None
Expulsions: None
Fouls: n/a
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