The VI Islamic Solidarity Games, taking place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, have entered an active phase. In the semi-final of the futsal tournament, the Uzbekistan national team faced Iran, one of the strongest opponents on the continent.
The debate started at a very fast pace. In the third minute, our national team member Shahzod Sadiyev opened the scoring with a precise shot, scoring the first goal of the match. At a time when Uzbek fans were overjoyed, the opponent also found the answer - in the 5th minute, Mas'ud Yusuf Shavardoz equalized the score.
In the first half, both teams created several dangerous chances, but the goalkeepers acted confidently. After the break, the struggle intensified. Iranian team leader Salar Aghapour put his team ahead in the 29th minute.
However, the Uzbek guys did not give up. In the 31st minute, Akbar Usmanov accurately aimed at the opponent's goal and restored the score to 2:2. At this time, the atmosphere on the field was intensely filled, and both teams gave their all for a place in the final.
But in the final minutes, the Iranians demonstrated their experience. In the 32nd minute, Moslem Aladagbad, and a minute later, Ali Khalilvand Somehsofla scored, securing the victory for the opponents - 4:2.
During the match, Uzbek team member Shahram Fakhriddinov received a warning in the 20th minute. Overall, our team played selflessly, showed a worthy resistance to the opponent, and performed courageously before the fans.
The Iranian national team thus advanced to the final. Uzbekistan will now continue to compete for the bronze medal. According to the coaching staff, the team's performance serves as a great experience and psychological support for the next stage.
This match at the Islamic Solidarity Games once again showed that Uzbek futsal is among the leaders in the region and has the potential to compete for the finals in the near future.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
