Sport

Iran and Portugal dazzle in their FIFA Futsal World Cup openers

This was the first time Portugal netted 10 goals in a FIFA Futsal World Cup game

Published

3 months ago

September 17, 2024

Iran and Portugal registered historic victories in their FIFA Futsal World Cup openers on Monday in Uzbekistan, while France came from behind to win and Morocco beat Tajikistan.

Results for Monday September 16:

Portugal 10-1 Panama
IR Iran 7-1 Venezuela
Tajikistan 2-4 Morocco
Guatemala 3-6 France

Salar Aghapour and Pany Varela on Monday bagged breathtaking goals as Iran and France hurtled out of the blocks at Uzbekistan 2024.

There was mixed fortunes for two teams making their FIFA Futsal World Cup debuts, with Tajikistan dazzling in defeat to Morocco and France turning in a tremendous last 20 to overcome Guatemala.

Portugal 10-1 Panama

Portugal’s goals were scored by Jaime Penaloza, Afonso Jesus (2), Bruno Coelho, Tomas Paco, Erick Mendonça, Andre Coelho (2), Kutchy Camala Sa, Pany Varela.

Panama’s only goal was scored by Alfonso Maquensi.

Player of the Match was Erick Mendonça of Portugal who said after the match “we’re very pleased with the performance. Panama are a strong side, champions of their region. We spoke about making a good start, and that was crucial.”

Panama player Alfonso Maquensi said: “We can take a lot of encouragement from our second-half performance. Portugal are the best team in the world.

“We scored one, we could have scored more. Unfortunately we made too many mistakes in the first half, but what we did in the second gives us confidence for the matches ahead.”

This was the first time Portugal netted 10 goals in a FIFA Futsal World Cup game, and equalled their best-ever win in the competition: a 9-0 reverse of the same opponents in 2016.

Portugal are the defending champions at this year’s tournament.

Iran 7-1 Venezuela

Iran also put on a spectacular performance to defeat Venezuela 7-1 in their match on Monday.

Goals were scored twice by Salar Aghapour, Mahdi Karimi, and Behrooz Azimi while Amirhossein Davoudi scored one goal.

Venezuela’s single goal was scored by Milton Francia.

Player of the Match was Iran’s Salar Aghapour.

Speaking after the match at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex, in Bukhara, Azimi said: “The first few minutes were difficult for us, but then we adjusted and started to play better.

“The coach said it would be important for us to take advantage of Venezuela's first mistake, and that’s what we did. Then the game opened up for us.”

“We knew we were playing against a very strong team and that we would have to take advantage of any chance we had.

“They are futsal powerhouses, but I also leave the court thinking that we could have done more. There is a bit of a bitter taste, but now we have to move ahead,” he said.

With teams fired up to take home this year’s trophy, fans across Afghanistan need not miss out on all the action. Ariana Television Network is the official broadcaster in the country and is screening matches live daily.

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Afghanistan clinches ODI series victory against Zimbabwe

Published

20 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Ariana News

Afghanistan's national cricket team triumphed over Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to claim the series victory.

In a dominant bowling display, Afghanistan dismissed Zimbabwe for just 127 runs in 30.1 overs. The Afghan batsmen then chased down the target comfortably in 26.5 overs, losing only 2 wickets along the way.

The standout performer of the match was Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, who took a remarkable 5 wickets, while Rashid Khan supported with 3 wickets. Azmatullah Omarzai and Farid Ahmad each claimed 1 wicket.

The first match of the series was abandoned due to rain, but Afghanistan bounced back strongly in the second match, securing a commanding 232-run victory.

This series win follows Afghanistan's earlier success in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, further cementing their dominance in international cricket.

Sport

Bangla Tigers lift Lanka T10 Super League title

Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ariana News

Hambantota Bangla Tigers beat favorites Jaffna Titans by 26 runs in Thursday’s Lanka T10 Super League final at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.

The Tigers produced a fine all-round performance to beat the Titans, who had won all their matches in the lead up to the final.

Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Hambantota Bangla Tigers, put into bat first, posted 133 for seven from their allotted 10 overs through some useful contributions from their top order batsmen.

The openers Mohammad Shahzad and Kusal Perera added 35 runs from 2.4 overs before they suffered a middle order collapse and reached 59 for three at the halfway stage of the innings.

However, skipper Dasun Shanaka and Shevon Daniel revived the innings with a fourth-wicket partnership of 44 runs in three overs.

Shanaka made 21 with two sixes and two boundaries while Daniel struck 26 with one six and three boundaries before Kennar Lewis and Dhananjaya Lakshan added the finishing touches.

Chasing 133 runs for victory, Jaffna Titans lost wickets at regular intervals and they eventually finished at 107 for six despite a fighting unbeaten half century from middle order batsman Tom Abell.
Richard Gleeson wrecked the Hambantota Bangla Tigers’ innings with excellent figures of three wickets for 21 while Shanaka captured two wickets for four runs.