Iran Loses to Japan in AFC Womens Futsal Asian Cup

Tasnim
16 May 2025, 09:26 GMT+10

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran failed to book its place in the AFC Womens Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 after losing to Japan 3-2 in the semi-final at the Hohhot Sports Centre on Thursday.

- Sports news -

Two-time runner-up Japan will face Thailand in the final match on Saturday, while Iran, who won the previous two editions, will face China in the third-place playoff, with the winner to qualify for the FIFA Womens Futsal World Cup Philippines 2025.

Japan got off to a blistering start with Naomi Matsumoto seeing her grounded effort blocked. At the other end, Iran hit back on the counter-attack with Fereshteh Khosravi forcing keeper Nene Inoue into a save.

Backed into their own half, Iran were left stunned in the third minute after Mika Eguchi collected her own blocked effort to set up Risa Ikadai to score from inside a packed box.

Another brilliant play from Japan left Iran chasing a two-goal deficit a minute later when Inoue launched a long pass to Yuka Iwasaki, who teed up Kyoka Takahashi to drill the ball into the bottom left corner.

Iran, however, refused to concede defeat as Torkman showed her class in deadball situations when she drilled the ball past a sea of Japanese players into the bottom right corner in the 32nd minute.

The Central Asian side poured forward afterwards, but despite utilizing the power play, the equalizer eluded them as Japan took the place in the final and booked its ticket to the FIFA Womens Futsal World Cup.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iran Herald.

More Information

null in null

Business

Section

US sees absolute decline in international visitor spending

Foreign travel spending in US to decline 7% in 2025, report says

NEW YORK - International travel spending in the United States is projected to decline by 7 percent in 2025, amounting to a US$12.5...

Mixed close for U.S. stocks Thursday, dollar mostly lower

Dow Jones jumps 272 points as Nasdaq Composite dips 34 points

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks were mostly higher Thursday, although the Nasdaq Composite finished modestly behind. This is a market...

Puerto Rico courts manufacturers amid escalating global trade war

Puerto Rico lures manufacturing to lift economy facing Trump's tariffs

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: As the global trade war deepens, Puerto Rico is seizing the moment to lure international companies to relocate...

Eli Lilly’s Zepbound outperforms Wegovy in obesity drug study

Zepbound beats Wegovy for weight loss in trial of blockbuster drugs

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Eli Lilly's obesity drug Zepbound led to nearly 50 percent more weight loss than Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in the...

China's passenger car sales rise for third straight month in April

Chinese passenger car sales rise for a third month in April

SHENZHEN, China: China's passenger car sales climbed for the third consecutive month in April, increasing 14.8 percent from a year...

Dow disappoints but broader U.S. markets advance

Mixed day on Wall Street but Nasdaq Composite surges 137 points

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks were bought up on the Nasdaq Composite and Standard and Poor's 500 while the Dow Jones industrial...

Middle East

Section

Similar actions taken for Pakistan should also be taken for Turkey: Himachal Pradesh Leader of Oppposition (LoP) Jairam Thakur on ban of import of apples from Turkey

Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 16 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has supported the demand of Apple...