10/12/2008
fifa.com

Iran live to fight another day after coming from two goals down to edge a thrilling Group E encounter with Ukraine by the odd goal in nine.

The Asian champions' fate wil now be decided against Italy on Tuesday after a heart-stopping encounter that had everything one could want from a futsal match: excitement, passion and goals.

The respective sides' commitment to attack ensured that and it was Ukraine, so effective on the break, who looked to have the greatest cutting edge when they marched into a 2-0 lead inside nine minutes through goals from Ildar Makayev and Sergiy Cheporniuk.

Yest, with Iran looked tired and disorientated, their captain Vahid Shamsaee led by example, scoring from a penalty to reduce the deficit and forcing Fedir Pylypiv into an own goal to equalise before netting another spot kick to put Iran in front.

Mohammad Taheri took up the guantlet to score Iran's fourth and fifth goals, leaving Ukraine chasing a result that would preserve their own fragile hopes. As it was, while the Eastern Europeans poured men forward in search of a way back into the match, a combination of poor finishing, bad luck and superb goalkeeping from Mostafa Nazari ensured that the celebrations belonged to Iran.