2016 AFC U-23 Championship Day 7 Recap

PFDC – DOHA, Today was the final day of matches in Group A as hosts Qatar entertained Syria while Iran took on China. Qatar were looking to finish top of the group in order to avoid Japan.

Iran v China

Coming off a disappointing loss to hosts Qatar, the Iranians only cared about getting three points against a win-less China at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.

Iran were the better side in the first half and finally took the lead in the 38th minute. Mehdi Torabi sent a pass to the left side of the penalty area where Reza Aliyari wasted no time by centering the ball into the six yard-box. The Chinese keeper Zhang Yinuo dove for the ball but made a huge blunder by not corralling the ball or punching it to safety. Instead, his hand caused the ball to deflect off Chinese defender Jin Yangyang and it went right to Amir Arsalan Motahari, who pounced on it to earn his second goal of the tournament.

China had not produced many chances in the first half but equalized two minutes later when Chang Feiya carried the ball into the Iranian penalty area, evaded two defenders, and shot with his left foot. Mohammadreza Akhbari was positioned to make the save but the ball deflected off captain Roozbeh Cheshmi into the net.

The Iranians were not in the mood to go into the half tied 1-1. One minute later they regained the lead when some nice ball movement found Ehsan Pahlevan unmarked at the left side of the Chinese penalty area. Pahlevan made a nice move with his left foot by bringing the ball into the center of the area and fired it in with his right to put Iran back in the lead 2-1.

Three minutes into the second half, Iran were awarded a free kick when Mehdi Torabi was fouled. Torabi had been causing problems for China throughout the whole match with his runs down the left and great passes. Torabi decided to create more problems by taking the free kick himself. His rocket shot from thirty yards out curved around the wall and deflected off Zhang’s hand, hit the bottom of the crossbar, and went into the net. It was a fantastic goal and it is no surprise that Torabi has already featured for the National Team of Iran.

China got back in the match when they were awarded a penalty kick twelve minutes later after a foul committed by Ali Abdollahzadeh. Liao Lisheing converted the penalty and brought his tournament goal tally to three.

The Chinese squad did their best to find another equalizer but the Iranians remained disciplined and held on for the 3-2 win. Iran must now prepare for their quarterfinal match with heavy favorites Japan.

Qatar v Syria

Entering today’s match between Qatar and Syria at the Jassim Bin Hammad Stadium, the Qataris knew that a win or tie would clinch them the top spot in Group A but the match did not start off according to plan as the Syrians surprisingly took the lead after five minutes.

The Qataris could not clear a corner kick to safety as the ball found its way to the top of the penalty area. A crowded penalty area did not help Qatari keeper Abdul Latif Nassan as a low shot from midfielder Yousef Kalfa went into the lower corner. The Syrians were ecstatic as they celebrated but the hosts knew there was plenty of time remaining in a long match.

Five minutes later Qatar had a free kick just outside the penalty area. Akram Afif’s shot went into traffic, deflected off captain Abdelkarim Hassan, evaded Syrian keeper Muhannad Naim, bounced off the crossbar and into the net. The Qatari captain Hassan was in the right place at the right time and increased his tournament goal tally to four.

In the 24th minute, Akram Afif began a run from inside his own half, dribbled through the Syrian midfield, and fed a perfect ball that was finished off nicely by Ahmed Alaaeldin with a low shot into the far corner to give Qatar a 2-1 lead.

The damage in the first half was not done yet as Akram Afif again assisted another goal as his perfect long ball found Almoez Ali. Syrian defender Mouaid Al-Ajaan was muscled off by Ali as he rounded keeper Naim and slotted the ball home. The Qataris celebrated with a choreographed dance afterward as they took a 3-1 lead into the interval.

Late in the second half, Omar Khribin scored a penalty for Syria to cut the lead to 3-2 but his goal was cancelled out when Alaaeldin scored his second of the match a minute later to give Qatar a 4-2 win.

The Qataris have a one-hundred percent record heading into the quarterfinals where they will face either Saudi Arabia, Thailand, or North Korea.

Image courtesy of the-afc.com