U16: Iran 1-1 Syria

AFC – TASHKENT, Adnan Taki headed home a late equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw for Syria against defending champions Iran at Pakhtakor Stadium on Thursday and send them through to the quarter-finals of the AFC U-16 Championship.

Nothing less than three points would do for Iran if they were to snatch one of the top two places in Group B and they made the ideal start with an early goal from Siavash Haghnazari.

But instead of trying to add to their lead they sat back and just as it looked as though that would pay off, Taki struck to earn his side the point they needed to take second place.

Syria will play hosts Uzbekistan – who earlier finished top of Group A with an 8-1 defeat of Tajikistan – in the quarter-finals on Monday.

A fine individual effort gave the Iranians the lead after just five minutes when Haghnazari received the ball outside the box and skipped the challenge of defender Omar Kharbin to run through on goal, where he then slotted a shot beyond the right of Syria skipper Shaher Al Shakir.

They had their goalkeeper Meisam Labbaf to thank for protecting their lead 12 minutes later when an Abd Sabooh free kick was nodded goalwards by Walat Hamadi and the Iran shot-stopper leaped acrobatically to push the ball away for a corner.

Shareef Sebaee sent a dipping effort from distance whistling over the bar on the half hour as Syria pressed for an equaliser while Iran also had chances to extend their lead with captain Ali Fathian seeing his powerful drive palmed away by Al Shakir.

Labbaf bore the ire of the Syria players on the stroke of half time when his one-handed save denied Sabooh and protect Iran’s slender lead at the break.

Syria resumed their attack after the break as Sabooh curled a free-kick over the bar in the 54th minute before Kharbin hit a speculative effort from well over 35 yards into the hands of Labbaf.

Iran, meanwhile, were struggling to crack a solid Syria defence and had yet to register a shot on goal in the second half but with the fact that a goal against them would see them knocked out, it was understandable why they chose not to take any risks.

But such a tactic often only works for so long and so it proved as Syria equalised with 12 minutes remaining as Hussam Omr sent a cross into the area and Taki jumped between two defenders to head over Labbaf and into the back of the net.
Iran pushed forward in the closing minutes in a bid to regain the lead but Syria successfully repelled their attacks to secure the draw and with it their place in the last eight.