ESPINHO, Jul. 15 (MNA) – Iran men’s national beach soccer team beat Mexico 3-2 and win their place in the knockout stages on Tuesday.


Espinho Stadium was the venue for the third encounter of Iranian squad in the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup which has been underway since July 9 in Portugal city of Espinho.

Since 13:00 local time Mexico and Iran fought for the second place in the Group C table as both had a chance to get into knock-out stage and Brazil had guaranteed its place in the quarter-finals.

Iran stormed into a three-goal lead, with Mohammad Ahmadzadeh and Faroogh Dara's second period efforts building on Amir Akbari's first period opener. The Mexicans responded with two second period goals of their own, through Gerardo Gomez and Abdiel Villa, but it was not enough to prevent their side being knocked out.

Akbari, featuring at his third global finals, scored inside the opening two minutes once again, as he had against Brazil in his side's most recent match.

Mexican Adrian Gonzalez was expulsed at 3'08" after fouling against Peyman Hosseini.

Ahmadzadeh then grabbed his third goal in three games in Espinho with a spectacular overhead kick, before Dara's fist Beach Soccer World Cup goal since 2007 helped Marco Octavio's side into a seemingly unassailable lead.

The Mexicans hit back minutes later though through Gomez and Villa, both grabbing their first ever Beach Soccer World Cup goals. Despite applying pressure in the closing stages, the Mexicans could not find the crucial leveller - thanks in part to some spectacular goalkeeping from Peyman Hosseini - and head home without a victory to their name.

Now after the outcome of the Brazil-Spain match Iran is the second team in Group C and has to encounter Group D winners Tahiti in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

By Mehr News Agency