TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Defending champions Iran demonstrated their prowess and hammered Uzbekistan 7-1 on Friday in the semifinal of the AFC Futsal Championship in Taipei, China, setting a clash against Japan in the final to be held on Sunday.

"Our main target was the final, and just after this game, our work has now begun. Because that is what everyone in Asia is expecting us to reach the final. We are third in the world, and we have to live up to that expectation," Iran's head coach, Mohammad Nazemasharieh, was quoted as saying by local media.

"Iran played really strongly today. Our first half performance was really bad, but in the second half we improved. I'm devastated by the loss but we will try to improve as we start our preparations for the match against

Uzbekistan will play against Iraq in the third-place match.