Iran Women advance after shootout success

Iran defeated hosts Jordan 4-2 on penalties to advance to the second round of qualification for the  AFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2011 after the Iranians came from a goal down to draw 1-1 in the group decider.

With both teams having defeated India 3-0 in the three-team South and Central/West Zone qualification group a tie in Thursday’s clash at the Petra Stadium would mean the outcome would be settled by a penalty shootout and that scenario was realised after Fallah Aynaz’s 71st minute strike cancelled out Natasha Al Naber’s opener, with the Jordan skipper scoring ten minutes into the second half.

Al Naber, however, was not as accurate in the shootout, missing her penalty along with team-mate Nayruz Al Said, while Fatemeh Ardestani, Behnaz Taherkhani, Sara Zohrabinia and Yasaman Pakjoo were all on target for Iran.

Iran will join the winner from the ASEAN Zone group and the duo will advance to a round-robin league competition in December that will also feature the teams that finished 6th to 8th (Thailand, Myanmar and Chinese Taipei) at the last AFC U-16 Women’s Championship.

The top team will then join Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Japan, Australia and China at the 2011 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship finals.