Tag: Heidar Sharifi

Iran U-14 narrowly misses the final of AFC U14 championship

Hamedan: Iraq will meet DPR Korea in the final of the AFC U-14 Championship after a brace from captain Mohammed Ridha sealed a thrilling 3-2 win over hosts Iran in the Monday’s second semi-finals.  The come-from-behind win was Iraq’s third win in the championship as only Tajikistan have denied them so far in the competition. Besides Ridha’s two stunners, tournament’s leading scorer Mohanad Kadhim also added one to make his total tally four goals in four matches. Iran looked promising in the beginning and soon in the 9th minute, captain Zabihollah Kohkan headed home Iran’s first of the match. Midfielder Mohsen Godarzi set Kohkan up from the right and his captain connected a bullet header from point-blank range to secure an early lead. The lead lasted only for three minutes after Kadhim struck his fourth of the championship with a simple tap-in. A fierce shot from Vahid Namdari deflected at the path of unmarked Kadhim who just had to guide the ball towards its destination for a precious equaliser. Ridha scored a brace in the second-half and both the goals were identical. The dead-ball specialist young boy struck rightfooter from 20-yard area at the top corner of the net in the 33rd and 40th minutes when Iran defenders brought down Kadhim (on both occasions) forcing Iran coach Heidar Sharifi to change his goalkeeper Mohammadreza Goli. “He has a God-gifted talent from that area,” Iraq coach Sadd Hashim praised the double-scorer after the match. “In training here, he has already scored 20-30 times from there so we knew that a freekick around the penalty area could be a good opportunity for us to score,” “We knew that we have to convert our opportunities and despite going down by a goal we kept our head cool and manage to win this important match. “We are now inches closer but still need to work a lot to get the objectives,” added the Iraq coach. Iran reduced the deficit but in the stoppage time through defender Taha Shariati who was given licence by the coach to play upfront after they were trailing by 3-1 with few minutes left. Shariati served the purpose but there were hardly any times left after his goal. “We tried our best but yes few mistakes at the back cost us the match,” coach Heidar Sharifi said. “There were two main objectives for Iran team; one is to gain experiences of playing in the international competition and help grow these young kids as footballer and the other one is to win the championship. “We got the first one but not the second. It does not matter, the main thing is to play good football, enjoy the football you play which you saw today at the pitch,” Sharifi added addressing the journalists. DPR Korea defeated neighbours Korea Republic 3-1 in the penalty shootout earlier on the day to set up Wednesday’s final showdown against Iraq.

Iran qualifies for the semi-finals of AFC U-14 Championship.

Hamedan: Mohsen Godarzi scored a cracking decisive in the 40th minute as Iran edged Saudi Arabia 1-0 to enter into the semi-final of the AFC U-14 Championship as Group A runners-up.  The Saudi players gave a good fight to the hosts and after Timor-Leste scored an equaliser elsewhere at the Mofateh Stadium against DPR Korea, Iran had to suffer an anxious ending of the match. The failure of Timor-Leste to win combined with Saudi’s inefficiency in front of Iran goal ensured that the hosts progress as group runners-up and wait for the opponents from Group B as their potential foe for the semi-final. Both the matches of Group B will be played on Saturday. Compared to previous matches, Saudi were much better on Friday as they came close twice early in the match including a chip from midfielder Aldhuwayhi Abdulaziz which rattled the cross bar. Iran’s midfielder Mohammad Sharifi also struck the side bar just before the half time. As both the sides were playing entertaining football, Godrazi’s individual brilliance separated the sides after he connected a powerful leftfooter from the edge. He dribbled past two Saudi defenders before unleashing the shot which left Saudi goalie Alshamrani Anas Ibrahim clueless. “Iran against Saudi match is always an important match and today was no different,” Iran coach Heidar Sharifi said after the match. “We (Iran and Saudi Arabia) are considered as traditional powerhouse of Asian football and we respect each other very much. “We knew that it was not going to be easy task against a Saudi side who are under the vigil of a master tactician Omar (Abdulla). “But we were also determined to win and the credit goes to all the players and technical staff for this great win. “I don’t have any preference on my semi-final opponent, whoever is our opponent we will play to win,” he added. His counterpart Abdulla was also magnanimous in defeat. “The good sign is that we continue to improve and that is what my objectives were in the tournament,” said the Saudi coach. “These players are still very young and have a lot of football ahead of them so this tournament was a good learning experience for them. “They will be much better in next AFC U-16 Championship in 2016.

Superior North Koreans anrrowly defeat Iran U14

Hamedan: Captain Kim Pom-hyok scored second goal in as many matches of the AFC U-14 Championship as DPR Korea edged hosts Iran 1-0 in a Group A encounter on Wednesday.

 In the match played in front of strong host nation’s supporters, Kim slotted home a 25-yard freekick which decided the fate of the match.

With the win DPR Korea are almost certain of making it into the semi-final with six points from two matches. Iran, who had defeated Saudi Arabia in their first match, are still occupying the second position despite suffering defeat as they had defeated Timor-Leste who earlier stunned Saudi Arabia.

“After analysing the matches so far, I still believe that Iran are strong will make it through alongside us from Group A,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Chol-jin after the match.

“I thought it would be very difficult for us to beat the hosts but at the end of the day, we were clinical and our defenders did not give them chances so I was relaxed and did not have to make numerous changes during the match.

“Those boys who were not used will be fresh in upcoming matches,” he added.

Like the previous match against Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea relied on long balls and pile drivers and one of those from captain Kim reached the destination.

After DPR were awarded with a freekick, the dead-ball specialist took the charges and left the diving Iran goalie Meraj Esmaeili hapless as early as in the eighth minute.

Iran coach Heidar Sharifi was quick to defend his goalkeeper who, with the proper judgement, could have saved the ball.

“He was outstanding today,” said Heidar.

“There are mistakes even at the top level, you have to remember some brilliant saves he made today.

“We are not done yet, we have a match in hand and I am sure we will defeat Saudi Arabia and progress.

“In fact, I’m taking this defeat as a blessing in disguise as the young boys knew that how difficult it is to lose a match, we will rebound,” he stressed.