Iran’s U19 national football team started the qualification for the final tournament in a positive manner defeating a stubborn 3-0 in the match held today Wednesday in Pas stadium in Ekbatan.

This is the first victory of the team coached by Sirous

The AFC Asian U19 Youth Championship Group D  qualifying match between Iran and Kyrgyzstan ended goal-less. Both teams efforts to score were futile with some of their best chances to score wasted as neither could find the opener as the score remained 0-0 at half-time.

In the second half, the tide changed and the stubborn defensive game-plan of  Kyrgyzstan crumbled early. The second half started with Iran’s pressing hard to break the deadlock. In  the53rd minute Iran scored the opener.  Aria Barzegar jumped above the defenders to finish off Ahmad Reza Jalali’s perfect delivery from the left flank.

The goal spurred Seyyed Akbar PourMousavi’s side to push forward as they dominated the game and their persistence paid off in the 78th minute when Alireza Monazami rose highest to head home Iran’s second goal. It was a well-taken header, as Monazami managed to increase the deficit for his team.

 Yassin Salmani sealed the match for the host in the 82nd minute. Salmani cooly slotted the penalty spot-kick to make it 3-0.

Despite the good result, Pourmousavi’s team lacked good finishing. There were individual flashes of good moves by the young players but as a cohesive unit, it seems that the team needs much more time to gel. Kyrgyzstan team was defensively strong with good physical shapes. The team was mostly dependent on their defensive play including some rough handling of the Iranian forwards. Despite their good efforts, especially in the 1st half, the team lacked punch upfront and were technically weak in ball handling. Their aerial defences left a lot to be desired.

 With this result, Iran is in the second in Group D by goal difference. Kyrgyzstan will meet UAE next while Iran will face off against Nepal on Friday at 17:45