Tasnim - Iran advanced to the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship after defeating Kuwait 2-0 in its last Group E qualifying match at the Samen Al Aemeh Stadium in Mashhad, Iran on Tuesday.

Reza Karamolachaab scored in the first-half injury time and Omid Noorafkan made it 2-0 in the 62nd minute.

Imperious Iran had stormed into pole position ahead of the final round of matches having defeated Nepal (10-0) and Jordan (3-0), while Kuwait had kept themselves in contention for a guaranteed place in next year’s finals in Bahrain by going into the decisive fixture with four points from a possible six following a defeat of Jordan (2-1) and a surprise 1-1 draw with the Nepalese.

Iran will join the nine other group winners and five best second-placed teams (which will be confirmed in due course) at the AFC U-19 Championship, with host Bahrain receiving automatic entry to next year’s 16-team tournament.