U19 – Korea Republic 2-0 Iran [VIDEO]
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Republic begin their AFC U-19 Championship challenge with a 2-0 win over Iran in an entertaining encounter at Linzi Stadium. Ji broke the deadlock with a deflected shot in the 38th minute and Jung added a second 11 minutes after the break to hand the East Asians the perfect start in Group D.
But it was who Iran almost took the lead straight from the kick-off as Milad Gharibi saw a 20-yard shot rattle the cross bar.
Iman Shirazi then sent a diving header just wide of the post as Iran started at a furious pace before Korea had their first chance after six minutes but Kim Kyung-jung drove a shot straight at keeper Iman Sadeghi from eight yards.
Jung Seung-yong almost scored direct from the resulting corner but Sadeghi clawed the ball out from under the bar.
Jung curled a free-kick just too high after 15 minutes and then managed to round Sadeghi almost immediately after but the striker overran the ball for a goal kick.
The Korean defence were unable to deal with a long throw three minutes later and Gharbi poked a good chance wide from close range when unmarked.
Jung thought he had given the East Asians a 23rd minute lead when he headed in a corner but it was disallowed for a foul on the keeper.
Payam Sadeghian fired wide from 20 yards and Baek Sung-dong sliced a volley past the post when the ball broke to the midfielder in the box before Korea went in front in the 38th minute.
Ji Dong-won twisted and turned on the edge of the area and his deflected shot went in off the far post.
Sadeghi did well to turn away Ji’s header that was bound for the top corner at the start of the second-half before Jung doubled Korea’s advantage in the 56th minute when the striker slid home at the far post.
Ji then tried to head a long ball over the top over the onrushing Sadeghi but the keeper was equal to the effort and at the other end, Gharibi worked space for a shot on the edge of the area but keeper No Dong-geon saved low to his left.
Gharibi was unable to take advantage of a fumble by the Korean keeper with just under quarter of an hour remaining and Jung headed wide with the Iran defence watching on after the ball had been lobbed back into the box.
Sadeghani side-footed straight at No from 10 yards with seven minutes to go following a cutback and substitute Yun Il-lok had a great chance to add a third but the Iranian keeper excellently tipped his shot over the bar after he bore down on goal.
Click here to see the goals from IranGoals.com
