AFC - 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.
