FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup
Iran finished third, three points adrift of Italy, who will face Portugal in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Iran almost took the lead in the opening minute after a well-worked build-up from a corner saw Nasimeh Gholami set up Mahtab Banaei, whose shot beat Italy keeper Ana Sestari but went wide of the left post by a whisker.
Italy responded seconds later with Sara Boutimah drilling a low shot from just above the arc, forcing keeper Farzaneh Tavasoli into a save with the European side then isolating Iran in their own half with a high-pressing game.
Iran, however, managed to burst through the shackles with Sara Boutimah unleashing a powerful long-range effort from distance, forcing Sestari to tip the ball over the bar in the sixth minute before breaking the deadlock four minutes later.
Tavasoli launched the ball from her own half and Fereshteh Khosravi’s dummy run inside the box blocked Sestari’s line of sight, leading to the ball slipping through and rolling over the line.
Italy came charging forward, forcing Tavasoli to tip away Gaby Vanelli’s effort in the 14th minute before the Iran captain survived a scare in the 18th minute when Renata Adamatti’s shot took a deflection off Tavasoli's fingertip and came off the right post.
Adamatti then spotted Tavasoli off her line with a minute left to play but she failed to guide her lob from her own half into the unattended goalmouth.
Italy almost drew level two minutes after the restart with Adamatti sidestepping Maral Torkaman at the top of the arc, only to see her shot miss the left post before Tavasoli’s timely block denied Vanelli a shot on goal.
It was end-to-end action with Iran coming close to doubling their lead in the 26th minute with Sara Shirbeigi seeing her shot blocked by a charging Sestari, while Italy’s Adrieli Berte failed to put the ball over the line following Vanelli’s cross which flashed across the goalmouth.
The European side turned the tables on Iran just before the half-hour mark with Berte completing Adamatti’s pass with a composed lob over Tavasoli.
Italy didn’t take their foot off the pedal and took the lead seconds later off another fast break with Bruna Borges tapping the ball home off Erika Ferrara’s pass.
Iran tried to force their way back with power play but their plan backfired with Vanelli taking advantage in the 35th minute, sending a long-range effort which deflected off Boutimah and into the back of the net.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
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