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AFC - 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 two after keeping eight 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.
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