AFC, Tashkent
Japan were crowned the new kings of Asian futsal after defeating hosts Uzbekistan 5-1 in the final of the AFC Futsal Championship here at the Yunusabad Sports Complex on Saturday.

For the hardworking Japanese, the win marked a firm change in fortunes and erased bitter memories of the last four years when they came up short time and again in the final against mighty Iran.

This is the first time since the inaugural AFC Futsal Championship in 1999 that the prestigious continental trophy has been won by a team other than Iran. For seven long years, Team Melli’s writ ran large until Friday when Japan ended their supremacy 5-1 in the semifinals.

On the mark for Japan were Kenichiro Kogure (22, 36), Takuya Suzumura (31), Rikarudo Higa (32) and Daisuke Ono (35), while Anvar Mamedov (36) scored the only goal for Uzbekistan.

This is the second time Uzbekistan have lost in the final after 2001 when they were defeated by Iran 9-0.