Iran thrashed three-time former champions Japan 6-0 in the 2023 AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup final in Thailand's Pattaya.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iran scored a spectacular opener when Movahed Mohammadpour collected a long pass from keeper Seyedmahdi Mirjajili before firing home in the fourth minute, reports Xinhua.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Japan suffered another setback in the eighth minute as Mirjajili scored again, this time from Ali Mirshekari's assist.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Japan had no answer to Iran when they conceded again in the 20th minute after Movahed diverted Mirjajili's throw to an unmarked Moslem Mesigar, who slammed the ball home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the 29th minute, Japan goalkeeper Shinya Shibamoto was dispossessed in his own area by Mohammadali Mokhtari, who tapped home the fourth into an empty goal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iran extended their lead in the 35th minute thanks to an own goal by Kosuke Matsuda, before Mirshekari netted the final goal with seconds remaining.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm so happy. This is the result of our hard work over the past year. I should thank all the players for playing so well in this tournament," said Iran head coach Ali Naderi Hosseinabadi after the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iran had finished unbeaten to top Group B before hammering Bahrain 11-0 in the quarterfinals and beating Oman 6-3 in the semifinals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the third-place playoff, Oman defeated the United Arab Emirates, joining Iran and Japan to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai this November.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iran had finished unbeaten to top Group B before hammering Bahrain 11-0 in the quarterfinals and beating Oman 6-3 in the semifinals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n