10/18/2008
the-afc.com

TASHKENT – Mohsen Talebat and tournament top scorer Kaveh Rezaei netted as Iran claimed a maiden AFC U-16 Championship title with a 2-1 win over 10-man Korea Republic at Pakhtakor Stadium on Saturday.

After Kim Dae-kwang was dismissed for picking up two yellow cards in 32 first-half minutes, Talebat’s piece of individual brilliance seven minutes before the break broke the deadlock to set Iran on their way.

And two minutes after the hour mark Rezaei claimed his sixth goal of the tournament to hand Iran a first U-16 title after losing the 2000 final to Oman before Lee Chang netted a stoppage time consolation for Korea.

The win also ensured Iran progressed through the entire competition from the qualifying stage with a 100% record after winning all 10 games, scoring 31 goals and conceding just three after keeping seven clean sheets.

On an overcast day in the Uzbekistan capital, Korea goalkeeper Kim Tae-sung – making just his second appearance of the tournament in place of Kwon Tae-ahn – saved Mehrdad Yeganeh’s 25-yard snapshot after five minutes.

Iran were nearly handed the breakthrough after 29 minutes as a long ball forward caught the Korean defence flat-footed but, after nipping in behind the backline, Rezaei could only lift the ball over a stranded Kim Tae-sung and the crossbar.

Korea were reduced to 10 men 13 minutes before the break as Kim Dae-kwang, who was making his first start of the tournament, collected a second yellow card from Uzbekistan referee Valentin Kovalenko after picking up the first after just nine minutes.

And Iran capitalised on their advantage six minutes later as Talebat picked up the ball just inside the Korea half, flicked it past Lee Dong-nych, before surging into the area and slotting under an advancing Kim Tae-sung.

Korea coach Lee Kwang-jong introduced Son Heung-min, who has scored two of his four goals at the finals off the bench, shortly after the break and the move almost paid off as Lee Jong-ho met his cross a minute before the hour mark but watched as his glancing header drifted past the post with Iran goalkeeper Iman Sadeghi rooted to the spot.

But with Korea pressing for an equaliser, Iran doubled their lead three minutes later as Rezaei ran at Korea captain Rim Chang-woo, skipped past the centre-back’s challenge before calmly finishing past an exposed Kim Tae-sung.

Iran continued their dominance in the closing stages, but in the last minute of stoppage time Lee Chang fired under Iman Sadeghi from close range.

Doustimehr delight as Iran deliver

TASHKENT – Ali Doustimehr was delighted Iran delivered their AFC U-16 Championship promise after downing Korea Republic 2-1 in Saturday’s final.

Iran had their sights set on winning a maiden U-16 title from day one and achieved their goal as Mohsen Talebat and tournament top scorer Kaveh Rezaei scored to down a Korea side who played for just under an hour with 10 men following Kim Dae-kwang’s dismissal with the scores still level.

Lee Chang’s stoppage time consolation for Korea failed to halt unbeaten Iran, who deservedly claimed the crown after winning all 10 games from the qualifying stage and now turn their attentions to next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.

“From the first day we brought the players together I said we would win the trophy and take it back to Iran,” said Doustimehr.

“We promised we would qualify for the World Cup and win the final. Our players gave everything to take the trophy back to Iran.

“From the first time I brought the players together for training I told the players I wanted to qualify for the World Cup.

“After we qualified for the World Cup and got to the final I told my players to play the final without pressure like in any friendly match and we achieved that.

“Now my work has only just begun. We were representing Iran at this tournament, we will now represent Asia at the World Cup and I need to plan for that.”

Korea struggled to recover from Kim’s dismissal 13 minutes before the break after picking up a second yellow card and Iran needed jut six minutes to capitalise on their numerical advantage as Talebat’s strong run and finish opened the scoring.

Korea searched for an equaliser but were caught out as Rezaei netted his sixth goal of the tournament two minutes after hour mark to seal the win before Lee’s late strike.

“Korea are a very good team. They play professional football and have produced a lot of good young players for the national team. We had to work hard, my players worked hard and won the trophy,” added Doustimehr.

“But this wasn’t the hardest game we played at the tournament, the hardest game was against Syria as there was a lot of pressure. Against Korea there was less pressure.”

Lee refuses to blame red carded Kim

TASHKENT – Lee Kwang-jong refused to point any fingers at anyone but himself following Kim Dae-kwang’s first-half dismissal in Saturday’s 2-1 AFC U-16 Championship final defeat by Iran.

Kim Dae-kwang was shown a second yellow card after only 32 minutes at Pakhtakor Stadium and Korea failed to recover as Mohsen Talebat netted six minutes later before tournament top scorer Kaveh Rezaei doubled the lead just after the hour mark.

Lee Chang grabbed a stoppage time consolation for Korea, but it was too late to stop Iran claiming a maiden U-16 crown in empathic fashion after finishing the tournament with a 100% record through the qualifying round and finals in Uzbekistan.

“I thought the sending off was a fair call, but the player is very young and you can see the immaturity,” said Lee Kwang-jong.

“It was his first start of the competition and there was some nerves which caused him to get too over excited. I also did not try and control him, maybe I should have controlled the player more and made sure he was less aggressive.

“Overall I can’t say it was a bad call, I just have to live with that.”

Following Kim Dae-kwang’s dismissal, Talebat skipped past Korea defender Lee Dong-nych before beating goalkeeper Kim Tae-sung with a low drive from inside the area.

Korea switched from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3 in the second half in a bid to get back in the contest and also introduced Son Heung-min, who had scored four goals in five games during the finals.

The move almost paid off as Son’s cross was glanced wide by tournament MVP Lee Jong-ho.

But three minutes later Korea were caught short at the back as Rezaei rounded captain Rim Chang-woo on the edge of the area before sliding the ball past Kim Tae-sung to claim his sixth goal of the tournament.

The goal dented Korea’s confidence before Lee Chang’s stoppage time close range finish proved little consolation.

Korea will now look to re-group for next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, where they will represent Asia alongside Iran, United Arab Emirates and Japan.

MVP Lee Jong-ho said: “Our team overall didn’t do as well as we would have expected to, but we will go to the World Cup and look to improve in the areas we lacked and give a good showing at the World Cup.”