Tag: Mostafa Ghanbar Pour

Match Preview : Iran U16 vs. North Korea U16

Bangkok: Iran coachMostafaGhanbar Pour has talked upDPR Korea's strengths ahead of their AFC U-16 Championship quarter-final encounter atMuangthong Stadium on Sunday. Ghanbar Pour saw the former champions Iran top Group D thanks to opening wins against Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Iran did lose 2-1 to Syria on Thursday, although Ghanbar Pour's side had already secured their second consecutive appearance in the knockout stage with a game to spare. "DPR Korea is one of the best teams in the championship. We have analysed their team and talked with our players about their positive and negative things," said Iran coach Ghanbar Pour (pictured). "They are very unified and powerful and all of their players are strong, but we have our approach and strategy to deal with their positive and negative points. "If we take our time and opportunities, we can win this match." Having already guaranteed top spot in Group D following wins over Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Ghanbar Pour made nine changes to the Iran side which lost to Syria. "We asked our main players to have a rest. Some key players also had a yellow card so we didn't want to risk them," added the Iran coach. "We also wanted to motivate them and give the substitutes a chance to play. I hope the players will benefit." The winner of the last quarter-final tie will also secure a place at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. "All the teams who are in the quarter-finals are thinking about World Cup qualification. Sunday's match is the showcase for this so it is very crucial," said Ghanbar Pour. "If we qualify, we have one year to prepare to represent the AFC." AFC-U-16-Championship-2014 Opposite number Yon Kwang-mu, meanwhile, has identified striker Han Kwang-song as DPR Korea's main player in the tournament. Han netted in all three Group C games as DPR Korea beat Kuwait and Nepal either side of a defeat by defending champions Uzbekistan. "He is our main attacker and one of the best strikers in the championship in my opinion," said Yon. "I think he will show his talent in the quarter-final." And Yon is boosted by the return of defender Kim Wi-song from suspension as the 2010 AFC U-16 Championship winners seek a return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time since 2011. "All the teams are dreaming about the World Cup; it is the same with our team. Every player and coach wants to be there," added the DPR Korea coach. "We have had an extra day to recover which has helped, and now we will do everything we can to qualify for the World Cup."

Iran U16 lose the final group match.

the-afc-com

Bangkok: Unbeaten Syria qualified for a fourth consecutive AFC U-16 Championship quarter-finals after goals from Mohammad Jaddoua and Naeim Naem secured a 2-1 victory over Group D winners Iran at Muangthong Stadium on Thursday.

 Syria knew a win would guarantee second place in the group behind Iran and Mohamed Al Attar's side took the lead midway through the first half following a neat finish from midfielder Jaddoua before striker Naem crucially doubled the advantage five minutes before half-time.

Midfielder Mohammad Soltanimehr reduced the deficit in first-half stoppage time, but with Iran having a goal disallowed for offside in stoppage time, Syria will now face Group C winners and defending champions Uzbekistan in Sunday's quarter-final.

"It was a very difficult game and complicated because of the points situation in the group," said Syria coach Al Attar.

"We played to win, but instructed our players to keep a solid formation and not allow the Iran players space.

"I was very nervous about conceding at the end, but it finished up in our favour."

Former winners Iran made nine changes to their starting line-up following Tuesday's 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia which secured top spot in Group D with a game to spare, and it was Syria who had the first sight on goal after 15 minutes as Jaddoua's header from Anas Aji's corner was cleared to safety.

Jaddoua then saw his left-footed volley from the resulting corner drift just wide of Ali Akbar Ahmadi's left post.

But after Aji volleyed over soon after, Syria made their dominance count as Jaddoua latched onto a through pass and coolly tucked the ball under Iran goalkeeper Ahmadi to open the scoring in the 26th minute.

Iran midfielder Amir Hossein Yahyazadeh then headed his side's first chance of note over the crossbar just after the half hour mark.

Syria, though, should have doubled their lead seven minutes before the interval only for the unmarked Mohamad Kawakbi to volley Mohamad Loulou's deflected cross high over the crossbar from 10 yards.

But Syria did double their lead a minute later as Naem latched onto a long ball before lobbing over outrushing custodian Ahmadi.

Iran, though, pulled a goal back against the run of play on the stroke of half-time courtesy of a beautiful 20-yard free-kick by Soltanimehr which curled into the top right-hand corner.

And Iran started the second half the brighter and captain Nima Mokhtari curled just over shortly after the restart.

Then midway through the second half, Hesam Soltanpour's fizzing shot from distance was well held by Syria goalkeeper William Ghannam as the Iran strikers closed in.

A minute later Syria could have given themselves some breathing space after a mix-up in the Iran defence, but striker Abdullah Barakat shot directly at goalkeeper Ahmadi.

Iran, though, continued to push and had the ball in the net in stoppage time following a goalmouth scramble, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

"We had already qualified so I wanted to rest some of my key players and give others a chance," said Iran coach Mostafa Ghanbar Pour, who must now prepare his side for Sunday's quarter-final with 2010 champions DPR Korea.

"At half-time I told my players to concentrate more and we played much better after that."