10/31/2008
the-afc.com

DAMMAM – Nawaf Al Abid scored a late header as Saudi Arabia began their quest to lift the AFC U-19 Championship on home soil with a 2-1 defeat of Iran on Friday.

Mohammed Abusabaan put Saudi Arabia ahead with a penalty after eight minutes but Ehsan Haji Safi equalised from the spot before half-time at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium.

The hosts faced stern resistance from a physical and well-organised Iran, who were finally broken four minutes from time when Al Abid converted Sultan Al Beshi's pinpoint cross as the hosts opened their campaign for a first title since 1992 with a win.

The result leaves Saudi Arabia at the top of Group A alongside Japan, who defeated Yemen 5-0.

Mohsen Mosalman missed a glorious chance to open the scoring for Iran after four minutes.

The striker latched on to a through ball and held off the challenge of Mousa bin Ayyash but with just goalkeeper Hussain Shaian to beat, he could only fire wide from close range.

The agony of the miss was exacerbated when Saudi Arabia took the lead four minutes later.

Iran failed to deal with a cross which reached Nawaf Al Abid at the far post.
His snap-shot was saved by Mohammedbagher Sadeghi but a foul in the follow up resulted in referee Benjamin Williams pointing to the penalty spot.

Abusabaan stepped up and calmly slotted the ball low to Sadeghi's right for the opening goal.

Shaian was called into action again when the goalkeeper had to save from Bakhtiar Rhamani's fierce right-foot shot but Iran were on level terms soon afterwards when the hosts conceded a penalty of their own as Seyediman Moosavi was felled by Shaian's rash challenge inside the area.

The forward was running wide chasing a through ball which Shaian failed to reach and Williams had no option but to point to the spot and show the stopper a yellow card.

Haji Safi netted from 12 yards amid a chorus of boos from the partisan crowd, his shot rebounding off the inside of the post and onto Shaian's back before going in.

Iran had an unorthodox attacking route through Moosavi's long throw, which called Shaian into action early in the second-half.

But Moosavi continually failed to find a team-mate with his aerial bombardment and so failed to trouble Shaian, forcing Iran to look for an alternative option.

Haji Safi created an opening for himself but shot straight at Shaian before the hosts finally found a route through the stubborn Iran defence.

Al Beshi's perfectly-weighted cross from the right found Al Abid who scored with a powerful header with four minutes to go.

Rodrigues revels in tactical win

DAMMAM – Coach Nelson Rodrigues was forced to defend his tactics after leading Saudi Arabia to a 2-1 victory in their opening AFC U-19 Championship match on Friday.

The Group A contest was short of the style usually associated with the Brazilian brand of football, but the coach was pleased with the result after claiming three points.

Mohammed Abusabaan put Saudi Arabia ahead with a penalty after eight minutes but Ehsan Haji Safi equalised from the spot and the match appeared to be heading for a draw only for the hosts to net the winner.

Nawaf Al Abid converted Sultan Al Beshi's pin-point cross after 86 minutes as the hosts overcame stubborn resistance from a strong and direct Iran side.

"I'm very satisfied with my team especially as we won three points against a very strong Iran team," said Rodrigues.

"It was a very tough match. We fought to the very last minute to get the result we wanted and that was the win.

"I'm very pleased with the performance of my players tonight."

Rodrigues insisted Saudi Arabia had to combat Iran's style in order to prevail – and he was glad to be proved right.

"Iran depended on long ball tactics but we confronted them," he added.

"Iran had a very good defence, especially in the middle, so we tried to play down the sides using the wings and we managed to win the game."

The result leaves Saudi Arabia top of Group A alongside Japan, who defeated the hosts' next opponents Yemen 5-0.

Coach Nenad Nikolic rued missed opportunities and poor performances from some of his players as Iran succumbed to defeat, denting hopes of a first title in more than 30 years.

"The match was a very hard match because we played a good team," said the Croat.

"We had some good chances to score goals but if you don't take chances you will be punished against a team like Saudi Arabia."

Mohsen Mosalman missed a glorious chance to open the scoring for Iran after four minutes, firing wide from close range and Haji Safi spurned an opportunity shortly before Al Abid's winner.

"We had two or three chances to score and we didn't take them," added Nikolic.

"Tonight we played very badly and I don't know why.

"My midfield players did not play well. I told them to play one, two-touch football and play fast and keep moving but they played badly."

Despite the setback, Nikolic believes Iran can still progress to the quarter-finals.

"We have a chance, but I must change the mentality of my players – they are a little down," he added.