5/26/2006
Alaric Gomes, Gulf News

Dubai: Iran upset China 6-4 to snatch the third and final qualifying spot at the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup qualifying play-off held at Jumeirah Beach Park yesterday.

However, the bigger shock of the evening followed in the final when Bahrain dethroned champions and World Number Four Japan 5-3.

Both Japan and Bahrain had qualified for the 2006 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup on Thursday with contrasting wins in the semifinals.

But with so much of pride at stake at being crowned the champions of Asia, it was Bahrain who came out with flying colours at the end of the gruelling final.

With their thrilling win, Iran became the third team to make it to the 2006 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup to be held in Rio de Janeiro in the first half of November.

Iran coach Farshad Falahatzadeh was thrilled at cementing their first-ever appearance at a Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup. "To earn a ticket for the World Cup is an amazing achievement for my country," he said.

"And for this to happen in the same year Iran have qualified for the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany, is even better.

"Now that we have achieved what we had come here for, we will go back to Iran and start our preparations for the 2006 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup."

Egged on by a large holiday crowd, Iran were comfortably ahead 4-1 at the end of the first period.

The hero for the Iranians was their fleet-footed striker Mohammad Ahmadzadeh, who came clean with a swift hattrick.

Men Ren pulled one back for China by the end of the period.

China fought back in the second 12-minute period scoring through Shi Zhong and Lu Wen to make the match alive.

However, Ali Mirza Ostavari scored a superb goal off a solo effort to distance the two teams further.

China did go all out and were rewarded with Lu Wen scoring from the spot. But an Ali Reza Rahimi goal ensured they were through to the World Cup.

The final proved to be a thrilling affair with Bahrain forcing their way to an early 3-0 lead at the end of the first period of play – best player Esmail Abdullah Omar scoring two of these and Esa Hassan getting one.

Omar went on to complete his hattrick early in the second period, and the match was all but over.

In an interesting stance, Fifa used referees from the UAE to officiate in the final despite having neighbouring Bahrain as one of the finalists.

"We want to promote the game of beach soccer, and at the same time, ensure that the local match officials also get the confidence needed in handling such pressure events," explained Fifa Beach Soccer official, Joan Cusco.

"Having referees from the UAE officiate at a game involving Bahrain is good enough to maintain neutrality," the official said.

Results

Third place play-off: Iran bt China 6-4.
Final: Bahrain bt Japan 5-3.

Best Goalkeeper: Hamed Ghorpanpour (Iran)
Highest Scorer: Kawaharazuka Takeshi (Japan)
Player of the Tournament: Esmail Abdullah Omar (Bahrain)

Bahrain, Japan and Iran qualify for the 2006 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup to be held in Rio de Janeiro.