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Afghanistan booked their ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 after defeating Kyrgyz Republic 5-3 in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand 2024 Playoff 3 on Sunday, April 28.
It will be Afghanistan’s first appearance at the FIFA Futsal World Cup, joining Iran, Tajikistan, Thailand and hosts Uzbekistan at the September 14 to October 6 tournament.
Afghanistan head coach Majid Mortezaei was delighted with his side’s qualification.
“I’m extremely happy that Afghanistan qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan. It’s an unbelievable feeling and our proudest moment in the history of Afghanistan futsal. My players worked hard for this win and I want to congratulate them,” said Mortezaei.
Kyrgyz Republic head coach Lluis Bernat Molina was left disappointed as his suffered heartbreak after having come so close to qualifying.
“Our biggest problem was that we made plenty of mistakes in our passing and finishing. Maybe we have a very young generation and that made us nervous and unfortunately it wasn’t our day,” said Molina.
The match got off to a cagey start at the Bangkok Arena with Afghanistan’s Farzad Mahmoodi testing Kyrgyz Republic keeper Bekbolot Akmataliev with a grounded effort while at the other end, keeper Mohammad Safari deflected Kairat Kubanychov’s volley from the right flank.
Kyrgyz Republic wasted a set-piece situation when Daniiar Talaibekov struck the Afghanistan wall with his free-kick. Kyrgyz Republic had another go with Shokhrukh Makhmadaminov trying to set up play, before he was stunningly dispossessed by Reza Hossein Poor, which led to Afghanistan converting in the seventh minute.
Hossein Poor constructed the move, playing the ball forward to Omid Qanbari, who muscled his way through the centre before firing a powerful drive from distance into the top right corner of the net.
Kyrgyz Republic were unlucky not to draw level in the 17th minute when Mukhamed Askarbekov’s shot hit the bar, while Hussain Mohammadi came close to doubling Afghanistan’s advantage moments later but was denied by Akmataliev before Akbar Kazemi struck the bar a minute before the break.
However, Afghanistan were not to be denied when they doubled their lead in the 28th minute following Mehran Gholami’s solo run on the left flank before striking past Akmataliev.
Kyrgyz Republic reduced the deficit in the 28th minute through Kairat Kubanychov, who squeezed his effort from the left flank, the ball deflecting off Afghanistan’s Mahdi Norowzi before settling in the back of the net.
Afghanistan’s constant pressure led their third goal when Kazemi was at the right place at the right time to score off a rebound, following Gholami’s initial effort.
A desperate Kyrgyz Republic’s full court press then backfired when they conceded the fourth with Norowzi floating the ball into an unattended net.
Kyrgyz Republic gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Shokhrukh Makhmadaminov set-up Shokhrukh Makhmadaminov to score from the top of the box on a power play move.
However, Sayed Husseini made it 5-2 with Kyrgyz Republic’s Samat Dzhanat Uulu scoring a consolation third as Afghanistan sealed their maiden appearance at the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
