The-afc.com
Tabriz:
Iran overcame a spirited challenge from Afghanistan to top Group A of the AFC U-20 Championship IR Iran 2019 with a 3-2 win over their Central Asian neighbors on Sunday. In the first match of the group Iran defeated Hong Kong 6 -3
Iran, who are looking to defend the title won in 2017, will face Lebanon in the quarter-finals while Afghanistan will take on Group B winners Thailand on Tuesday.
Afghanistan knew that if they were to clinch the title, they would have to see off the challenge of Asia’s biggest teams and in Iran, they were up against the tournament favorites and defending champions.
Afghanistan took the game to Iran, but the hosts were up for everything that was thrown at them, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
Backed by a partisan crowd, Iran were in front just three minutes in when Masoud Yousef Shavardazi outmuscled Hassan Ali Jafari at the half-line mark before surging forward and beating ‘keeper Mohammad Javad Safari from a tight angle.
Afghanistan could have, and should have, equalized a minute later when Jafari dispossessed Ali Akrami and set up Hamid Reza Hossaini for a sitter, but the forward opted to place the ball and missed by inches.
The intensity of the match was reflected by the fouls Afghanistan had accrued but they dominated possession as Iran were forced to defend deep.
After 15 minutes of constant pressure, Afghanistan found their equalizer through Ali Arab Zada, who connected to Seyed Hossein Mousavi’s perfectly timed pass in front of the goalmouth to ensure the scores were level at the break.
Iran, however, showed their class when Sahand Rezapour fended off Farzad Mahmoodi and sent the ball to Reza Ghanbarisaeidbad, who controlled the ball with confidence before slotting home in the 30th minute.
A moment of sheer brilliance by Shavardazi saw the host nation double their lead after he dribbled past two defenders and let loose an unstoppable strike a minute later.
A sixth foul was almost unavoidable for Afghanistan in such a physically-tensed match, and 35 minutes in, Iran were awarded a spot-kick from the second penalty spot but Aghapour missed an opportunity to extend the lead as he shot wide.
Mojtaba Mohammadi was sent on as the power player in the 38th minute and he delivered just moments later but a third goal which would have seen Afghanistan emerge as group winners proved elusive as Iran held on for the three points.
Hamid Moghadam: IR Iran head coach
“We were expecting such a tough and hard game. I had already said from the beginning that the hardest game would be against Afghanistan because they understand Iranian futsal very well. Afghanistan has got a really good team, you will see how they will perform against other teams, but our strategy (in this game) was to push them, not 100 percent, but enough to lose the ball. In this tournament, all the teams are performing very well, but our aim is to claim the title once again."
Abdul Razaq Momrak: Afghanistan head coach
“Congratulations to Iran for winning this game. I’m satisfied with my players performance in this match. We lost this match, because they had more experience. Our tactic for this match was to press them from the beginning. We still anticipate to win the next game, and the next, and the Championship.”
Iran’s U23 team (Omid Team) will start its long journey for the Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games 2016 Qualification at Azadi Stadium against Nepal on Monday 23rd March 2015.
The match on Monday is not expected to attract large number of fans due t the Nowrooz holidays and also due to the low expectation from a sting of failure by Iran that has hit this particular age group.
Mohammad Khakpour, a former Team Melli defender has been given this mammoth task and will be making his first attempt at this level of football to take Iran to the Olympics. Last time Iran made the Olympics games was back in 1980 Moscow games which eventually it boycotted.
Group C of the AFC U-23 Championship consists of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Afghanistan and Iran will be played in Tehran. The final rounds will be played in Qatar nine months from now.
On Paper the group looks easy enough for Iran to make the final championship rounds along with Saudi Arabia. However, with recent Iranian teams performances against inferior oppositions, nothing is taken for granted. Omid Team personal have already been talking about the strength of the Nepalese team, the first of Iran’s opponents. Saudi Arabian teams at any level, of course are always very competitive and difficult to beat.
Palestine has emerged as a strong team at senior level and their U-23 remains as unknown quality. Neighboring Afghanistan has been solidly progressing at football and their players have a good knowledge of Iranian teams.
The squad was boosted with the news that Azmoun and Jahanbakhash will be joining them despite the objection of Team Melli coach Queiroz. A ruling by Ali Kaffashian favored Omid Team and frustrated Queiroz who has considered robbing of these two players from him as the final nail in the coffin.