Iran beat UAE in youth tie

Khaleejtimes - Iran national youth team recovered from a goal down to beat UAE 3-2 in a friendly soccer match at the Iranian Club stadium here, Thursday night.

The Iranians, like their UAE counterparts, are preparing for the Asian Youth Football final rounds in Kolkata later this month, conceded a 35th minute goal through Ahmed Mubarak.

But Hojat Chahaar Mahadi showed a superb finishing power as he scored three goals to steer his side to victory.

Mohammed Najib scored the other goal for UAE after 30 minutes in the second-half.

After a slow start with action centred mostly in the mid-field, the match sprang to life after Ahmed Mubarak had put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute.

Mubarak, who picked a long pass on the right, made a stunning run beating a defender and the keeper, Mohsen Forozan before knocking into the empty net.

Iran responded well after the goal launching a series of attacks into their opponents’ half to miss two chances.

First Ismail Karavi hit over the bar after a move with Saman Akazamani while UAE keeper Ali Kasef punched away a cross from Ali Amiri.

Iran’s mounting pressure, however, paid off when Mahadi connected from close range to level the scores after 38 minutes.

The Iranians maintained the same pace after the break and almost took the lead after a terrific run on the left by Mehrdad Pourldi, five minutes into the session.

He then picked Ali Amiri who controlled the ball well but shot his effort wide off target. Amiri, however, made amends for that miss three minutes later as he beat a defender and the keeper to set up Mahadi to knock into the empty net for a 2-1 lead.

UAE’s keeper Ali Kasef rushed out two minutes later to punch clear a cross-cum-shot from Shahram Gudazi.

Mohammed Saeed also went close for UAE after he swerved past two Iranian defenders to drive a powerful shot from 20 metres that went wide.

Iran, however, raised the tally 3-1 in the 72nd minute after a great run on the left by Shahram Gudazi to set up Mahadi for another superb finishing from close range.

UAE continued to battle on but threw away two easy chances before Mohammed Najib struck from 20 metres to cut down the deficit 3-2 after 75 minutes.

Nasser Khamis and Najib were denied by Iran’s keeper Mohsen Forozan a few minutes from the end.

Jacky Bonnevay, the UAE’s coach from France after the match said:“Iran are a strong team. We played well offensively but we were let down through lapses in the defence. We have to correct these mistakes before the finals in India.”

But on the whole the Frenchman expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparations saying: “We have played against some of the best teams including the Malaysia Olympic team Saudi Arabia and now Iran.” UAE lost by a solitary goal against Saudi Arabia recently away.

"But the coach blamed the defeat on the sending off of one the players as early as in the 15th minute.

“The sending off affected our game plan and that in a way contributed to our defeat,” he added.