Tag: AFC U-14 Championship

AFC U-14 Championship. Iran to Meet Iraq in the Semi.

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Hamedan: Iraq smashed five past Thailand to claim pole position in Group B and set up a daunting tie against hosts Iran in the semi-finals of the AFC U-14 Championship 2014.

Mohanad Ali Kadhim continued his brilliant run in front of the goal by scoring twice, while Ali Kadhim, Abbas Mohsin and Ahmad Swadi were also on the scoresheet at the Mofateh Stadium..

Iraq remained unbeaten in Group B, bagging seven points from three matches to finish top, while at the Hajibabaie Stadium, Korea Republic fought hard to edge Tajikistan 2-0 and set up to set up another potentially classic semi-final against traditional rivals DPR Korea.

It took just 10 minutes for Kadhim (Mohanad) to open Iraq’s account after they were awarded a penalty. He further extended the lead in the 37th minute after Kadhim (Ali) had made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. There were second-half goals from substitute Abbas who scored shortly before the hour mark, and a stoppage time strike from another substitute Swadi.

“It is very important to qualify as a group winner, this gives you a psychological advantage,” Iraq coach Sadd Hashim told www.the-afc.com.

“However, I’m not overly ecstatic about our performance today. There is still room for improvement, and I am sure that we will see a different Iraq team on Monday,” he added.

Thailand finished the campaign with one win and two losses but coach Somsak Senchaowanich hailed the campaign as ‘successful’.

“We played good football but failed to qualify. I am not totally dejected, we will continue to improve in the future,” he added.

Iran will play Iraq on Monday 11th August at for a place in the final match.

Mahdavikia makes the effort to support to SR initiative

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Hamedan: Former AFC Player and Young Player of the Year Mehdi Mahdavikia drove from the Iranian capital Tehran to Hamedan to make a surprise visit to footballers with alternate abilities who are taking part in a tournament running alongside the ongoing AFC U-14 Championship.

The Team Melli legend, who represented Iran at four AFC Asian Cups and two FIFA World Cups, spent time chatting to the participants of the event and also get to see the potential Iran stars of the future as the AFC U14 Championship hosts defeated Timor Leste 4-1 at the Hajibabaie Stadium.

“We must realise how important football is for everyone including the people with alternate abilities,” the AFC Social Responsibility Programme’s Ambassador told www.the-afc.com.

“There are many important things in life and being connected with disabled people, encouraging them and letting them play gives you satisfaction.

“The AFC has done a great job in recognising these needs and addressing their requirements and I am more than happy to be part of this,” he added.

The head of the AFC’s Social Responsibility Department Dr. Annathurai also praised the former Hamburg and Persepolis winger for showing his enthusiasm and readiness for social cause.

“Despite his busy schedule, he managed time to travel from Tehran and encourage these kids, they will never forget this moment,” he said.
“It was not sure whether he would make it or not but he himself said he would be driving from Tehran to Hamedan – which is approximately 350 kilometers away from the Iranian capital.”

Madahvikia and former China women’s international Bai Lili were appointed as AFC Grassroots Ambassadors to help the Member Associations develop their grassroots football back in 2013.

Iran qualifies for the semi-finals of AFC U-14 Championship.

Hamedan:

Mohsen Godarzi scored a cracking decisive in the 40th minute as Iran edged Saudi Arabia 1-0 to enter into the semi-final of the AFC U-14 Championship as Group A runners-up.

 The Saudi players gave a good fight to the hosts and after Timor-Leste scored an equaliser elsewhere at the Mofateh Stadium against DPR Korea, Iran had to suffer an anxious ending of the match.

The failure of Timor-Leste to win combined with Saudi’s inefficiency in front of Iran goal ensured that the hosts progress as group runners-up and wait for the opponents from Group B as their potential foe for the semi-final. Both the matches of Group B will be played on Saturday.

Compared to previous matches, Saudi were much better on Friday as they came close twice early in the match including a chip from midfielder Aldhuwayhi Abdulaziz which rattled the cross bar.

Iran’s midfielder Mohammad Sharifi also struck the side bar just before the half time.

As both the sides were playing entertaining football, Godrazi’s individual brilliance separated the sides after he connected a powerful leftfooter from the edge. He dribbled past two Saudi defenders before unleashing the shot which left Saudi goalie Alshamrani Anas Ibrahim clueless.

“Iran against Saudi match is always an important match and today was no different,” Iran coach Heidar Sharifi said after the match.

“We (Iran and Saudi Arabia) are considered as traditional powerhouse of Asian football and we respect each other very much.

“We knew that it was not going to be easy task against a Saudi side who are under the vigil of a master tactician Omar (Abdulla).

“But we were also determined to win and the credit goes to all the players and technical staff for this great win.

“I don’t have any preference on my semi-final opponent, whoever is our opponent we will play to win,” he added.

His counterpart Abdulla was also magnanimous in defeat.

“The good sign is that we continue to improve and that is what my objectives were in the tournament,” said the Saudi coach.

“These players are still very young and have a lot of football ahead of them so this tournament was a good learning experience for them.

“They will be much better in next AFC U-16 Championship in 2016.

Sharifi “The Koreans were much stronger than us”

Haidar Sharifi , the head coach of Iran’s U-14 team currently participating in the AFC U14 Championship 2014 in Hamadan and, admitted that the “North Korean teams was stronger than us and whatever we tried , we could not shake them.”

North Korea defeated Iran U14 yesterday by one goal to nil in Haj Babaei Stadium. The goal scored from just inside the Korean half, about 50 meters out , was worthy of winning any match in style. The powerful free kick flew into the upper net from long-range.   Goals like this is hardly seen at this level of football, however , the Korean superiority was evident all around and they could have easily scored a few more on Iran U14. While the Koreans played a modern type of total football and nice exchanges, Iranian players , as usual , depended on their individual skill that failed them against a well-organized and very fit Koreans.  There is little doubt that the Koreans will be the major contender for the title as they have swept past the teams in the qualification with an astonishing ease.

“We are considering this defeat as a lesson learnt and hope that shortfalls are covered in the next vital match.” Sharif added.

Iran will meet Saudi Arabia on Friday and must win the match in order to qualify as the second of the group. The Saudi’s are without any points after losing the first against North Korea 2-0 and then surprisingly against Timor Leste 2-1 yesterday. Provided Korea defeats Timor Leste, Iran will qualify without having to defeat Saudi Arabia. Both matches will be played at the same time.

 

 

Superior North Koreans anrrowly defeat Iran U14

Hamedan: Captain Kim Pom-hyok scored second goal in as many matches of the AFC U-14 Championship as DPR Korea edged hosts Iran 1-0 in a Group A encounter on Wednesday.

 In the match played in front of strong host nation’s supporters, Kim slotted home a 25-yard freekick which decided the fate of the match.

With the win DPR Korea are almost certain of making it into the semi-final with six points from two matches. Iran, who had defeated Saudi Arabia in their first match, are still occupying the second position despite suffering defeat as they had defeated Timor-Leste who earlier stunned Saudi Arabia.

“After analysing the matches so far, I still believe that Iran are strong will make it through alongside us from Group A,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Chol-jin after the match.

“I thought it would be very difficult for us to beat the hosts but at the end of the day, we were clinical and our defenders did not give them chances so I was relaxed and did not have to make numerous changes during the match.

“Those boys who were not used will be fresh in upcoming matches,” he added.

Like the previous match against Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea relied on long balls and pile drivers and one of those from captain Kim reached the destination.

After DPR were awarded with a freekick, the dead-ball specialist took the charges and left the diving Iran goalie Meraj Esmaeili hapless as early as in the eighth minute.

Iran coach Heidar Sharifi was quick to defend his goalkeeper who, with the proper judgement, could have saved the ball.

“He was outstanding today,” said Heidar.

“There are mistakes even at the top level, you have to remember some brilliant saves he made today.

“We are not done yet, we have a match in hand and I am sure we will defeat Saudi Arabia and progress.

“In fact, I’m taking this defeat as a blessing in disguise as the young boys knew that how difficult it is to lose a match, we will rebound,” he stressed.

Iran off to a flyer at AFC U-14 Championship

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Published: 04 August 2014

Hamedan: Hosts Iran began their AFC U-14 Championship campaign with a 4-1 win over Timor Leste in the tournament’s opening match at the Hajibabaei Stadium on Monday.

Four different players were on the scoresheet for the hosts who will now face DPR Korea on Wednesday.

“I am very happy with the way we started the campaign but the score today was a little inflated,” declared Iran coach Heidar Sharifi.

“They (Timor Leste) were speedy and were very technical, had they come to Hamedan earlier and been properly acclimatised the story would have been different.”

Zabhiollah Kohkan opened the scoring for Iran in the 22nd minute, converting Mohammed Reza’s excellent cross.

Two minutes later. Vahid Namdari headed home a Reza corner to double the lead.

Leading 2-0 at the break, Iran went on to score two more goals in the second half to seal a comfortable win.

A sublime dummy by defender Amirhossein Esmaeilzadeh left Mohsen Godarzi unmarked, the playmaker firing home past East Timor goalkeeper Frangenio Da Cruz to stretch Iran’s lead even further.

Mohammed Zolfaghari duly bagged the host nation’s fourth, before Kornelis Nahak netted a consolation goal for Timor Leste in stoppage time courtesy of a penalty.

“I am happy with the way we fought against a physical Iranian side,” Timor Leste’s Korea Republic coach Kim Shinhwan told reporters.

“We had to travel a long way from Timor and we were not at our best physically. I hope to fix today’s problems in the next two matches and qualify for the semi-finals,” he added.

Timor Leste will face Saudi Arabia in another early kick-off on Wednesday.

 

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COMMENT

The one interesting episode of this match between Iran and Timor Leste in Hamadan was the insistence of some female relatives of the players to attend the match despite the long standing official ban.

Iran is one of the very few peculiar countries in the world that does not allow woman into sport stadiums. The ban was introduced after the Islamic revolution on the pretext of protecting the females against evil and immoralities while maintaining the Islamic values. Mixing of men and woman in close proximity to each other is considered one of the greater sins. According to the clerical hierarchy perspectives in Iran, only the filthy scrooges who seem to flock to the stadiums to watch football, not the decent folks who should spend his leisure time worshipping! The clerics do not think that females have enough mental agility to think for themselves or have enough sense to figure out where and when the stadiums are not favorable, so the clerics do the thinking and ban them all together, for their own good!

That is the official version of the ban not our views, in case you wondered. 

On this occasions though, some brave acts and strong personality Persians mothers, the type that Iran is renowned for, insisted and demanded that they are to be allowed to watch their sons. Despite the security guards attempts to prevent the group of females from entering, with the help and support of other male fans , the female relatives of these young boys defied the rules and forced themselves inside the stadium. The Mothers took their rightful place , sat and watched their sons play football like any true and loving mother or sister would do in a civilized society.

Another victory for the Persian Mothers. Bless them.