Team Melli U-19 defeated Japan 2-0 in the first match of group A of the AFC U-19 Asian Championship in Ras Al Khaima today. An Early goal by Behnam Barzay in the 3rd minute from a powerful header and another goal from substitute Fazeli scored in the second half, sealed the win and 3 points for Iran.

Team Melli shocked Japan, the title contender and 6 times finalist, with an early goal in the 3rd minute. Behnam Barzay towering over all the Japanese defenders to head home from a corner. The Japanese were not too concerned and played strongly with heir usual offensive and disciplined style, however almost all their attacks were broken by the “Wave-breaker” like Iranian solid defense.

This pattern continued throughout the match as despite more possession , Japan failed to really threaten Mohammad Naseri  in Iran’s goal. Whatever balls that were filtered to the Iranian goalkeeper , he dealt with easily.

Just before the hour mark , Fazeli scored the second goal for Team Melli from his first touch of the ball. The substitute player scored from a rebounded shot off the woodwork that hit the Japanese goalkeeper. Fazeli tapped the ball in after the Japanese defenders failed to control the ball.

The rhythm of the match continued however , Iran was clearly the more dangerous as the woodwork saved the Japanese from 3 goals. The Japanese disciplined play was no match for the powerful and more individually skilful Iranians.

Team Melli will be meeting UAE in the next match on Monday. The host drew with Kuwait 1-1 in the same group in an earlier match.

Match Details

AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2012				FINAL ROUND
	03-11-2012 21:00 GST		Emirates Stadium, Ras al-Khaimah, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

JAPAN vs. IRAN

0 – 2

Goals   Behnam Barzay 3′ – Hossein Fazeli 56′

Referee:     ABDUL MALIK ABDUL BASHIR (SINGAPORE)

Japan : Kushibiki Masatoshi  (GK) ; Matsubara Ken ,  Endo Wataru (c), Nara Tatsuki (77; Tanabe Ryota) , Yamanaka Ryosuke , Kumagai Andrew ,  Notsuda Gakuto (61′ Onose Kosuke),  Kubo Yuya , Ohshima Ryota , Watari Daiki ( 46′ Yajima Shinya), Matsumoto Masaya .

Coach: Yoshida Yashushi

Iran:  Mohammad Naseri (GK); Yousef Vakia, Hossein Kanani , Ahmad Abdollahzadeh,  Mohammad hossein Mor , Mohammad Ali Faramarzi, Farshid Esmaeili, Alireza Jahan bakhsh (c), Ali Choopani (56; Hossein Fazeli) , Behnam Barzay (66′ Ehsan Pahlavan), Sardar Azmoun  ( 80′ Amin JahanKohan)

Coach: Akbar Mohammadi

YelloW card: Ahmad Abdollahzadeh (IRN)