Iran U-17 bid farewell to the FIFA U-17 World Cup after losing 4-1 to Nigeria in Al Ain today.
The African champions scored 3 times in the first half and added a fourth in the second while Iran scored a consolation late in the second from a beautiful; volley bi Gholozadeh.
The Nigerians began the match very strongly and stamped their authority on the game from the first quarter of the match. It took Iran some time to settle. The consistent attacks by the skillful Nigerians resulted in two quick goals on the 23 and 25th minutes scored by Samuel OKON (23′) and Kelechi IHEANACHO (25′) before Musa MUHAMMED (42′) put the game beyond Iran’s reach with the third goal.
Iran was hopelessly outclassed in this half with the Nigerians showing some beautiful touches, lethal finishing and surprising stronger physical strength.
The second half started with Iran looking for a quick responses, but the erroneous passes and some route one football failed to make any inroads towards the Nigerian goal. The Africans however , looked like they were satisfied by the result and conserving energy for the next round , preferring to see the Iranians doing the attack.
However , Iran could not score and only one serious chance was created which was saved by the extended arms of the Nigerian keeper. TO make the matters worst for Iran , Musa YAHAYA score Nigeria’s 4th in the 76 minute.
Iran scored the consolation by Ali GHOLIZADEH (84′) however, it was not enough to threaten the superiority of the Nigerians who were one class above Iran in every department.
Three-time champions Nigeria had no trouble with Iran at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain racking up three goals in the first half en route to a 4-1 scoreline. The result sets up a quarter-final date for the Nigerians with Uruguay, a game in which they will likely be missing two of their best attackers – Kalechi Iheanacho and Success Isaac – through injury.
Nigeria came out all guns blazing in the opening seconds. Iheanacho, who scored four goals in the opener on this very pitch, fired a vicious shot from the corner of the penalty area inside the first minute that only just flew over the bar. It wasn’t long after that Chidiebere Nwakali raced through midfield on the end of an elegant heel flick from Zaharaddeen Bello. His shot from way out, however, also went over the goal.
The pressure was mounting on Iran, who’d been so sturdy up to this point in the competition. Nigeria were attacking up both flanks and crossing dangerously, but the storm subsided and Iran began to get some touches on the ball. And when Nwakali tried to dribble the ball out of defence, he was stripped by Mohammad Bazaj, whose effort from a tight angle after 21 minutes was the Iranian’s first chance of the half.
All that did was make the Nigerians angry. The Eaglets were into the lead just seconds later when Musa Yahaya pulled off an outrageous move to leave his man for dead at the edge of the penalty area. He sent in a low diagonal ball to Samuel Okon, who sliced in from a tight angle. Two minutes later it was 2-0 for the Africans. Taiwo Awoniyi, on for the injured Success Isaac, pulled the ball across the 18-yard line for Iheanacho, who dispatched his fifth goal of the tournament. It would be the impressive No10’s last action, as he pulled his hamstring shortly after and signaled for a substitute.
Captain Musa Muhammed grabbed a third goal for Nigeria five minutes from the interval, taking advantage of some slack marking to burst into the area and score to make it 3-0 at the break.
The second half lacked the total attacking sparkle of the first, but the Nigerians remained in full control. In the 78th minute, Yahaya dropped his shoulder brilliantly again – pulling out his signature move – before firing low into the corner from 25 yards. Iran managed a consolation goal six minutes from time. Substitute Ali Gholizadeh scored from the edge of the box with the Nigerian defenders suffering from a bit of understandable complacency. It was clearly too little too late for Iran though, as Nigeria’s dominant performance will likely send a chill up the spine of Uruguay, who they will meet in the last eight.