HO CHI MINH CITY (8 Sept 2012) – A double from captain Bakhsh Jirandeh gave Iran the title in the AFF Under-19 Tournament when they beat Uzbekistan in the 2-1 in the final that was played at the Thong Nhat Stadium this evening.
The Iranians had the best of start when barely a minute into the game when Jirandeh blasted in the lead following a mad scramble by the Uzbekistan defence for a clearance following a floater from Amin Kohan.
But Uzbekistan did not give up as they maintained the pressure for the equaliser and in the 19th minute, they duly found it when Yuldashov Boburbek put in the cross from the right that was headed into goal by lanky striker Sergeev Igor.
Four minutes later, Iran were again in the lead when Jirandeh slammed home what was the winner from close range.
Uzbekistan tried to get back in the game after the break by bringing in the speedy Yusupov Abdul Aziz but they just could not break through the Iranian defence.
The high points in the second half were the several yellow cards that was brandished by Singapore referee Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari for a handful of untimely challenges by both teams.
In the meantime, Australia emerged third in the competition when they beat hosts Vietnam 4-0 in the fight for third and fourth placing that was played earlier.
The decision to bring back No. 1 keeper Nguyen Son Hai in place of the lanky Dang Van Lam would prove costly for the home team where his failure to anticipate crosses allowed Australia to score two goals in the first half.
In the 12th minute, Jason Geria blasted in the lead off a cross from the right off Riley Woodcock before the latter added the second goal from a well taken free kick that took a wicked bounce beyond the reach of the rooted Son Hai.
The pep talk at the half saw Son Hai making some early improvements in the second half but in the 66th minute, his failure to make a clean save saw Adam Taggart pouncing on the loose ball for Australia’s third goal of the game.
But Taggart’s heroic would turn against him three minutes later when was red carded by referee Thong Chanketya from Cambodia for a robust foul on Phan Dinh Thang.
Australia then went on to wrap the game up in the 73rd minute with their fourth goal of the game from Woodcock.
AFF UNDER-19 TOURNAMENT 2012
(All matches at the Thong Nhat Stadium)
2 Sept 2012: AUSTRALIA 1 UZBEKISTAN 2 / IR IRAN 2 VIETNAM 1
4 Sept 2012: UZBEKISTAN 1 IR IRAN 2 / VIETNAM 0 AUSTRALIA 4
6 Sept 2012: AUSTRALIA 1 IR IRAN 4 / UZBEKISTAN 4 VIETNAM 0
8 Sept 2012: AUSTRALIA 4 VIETNAM 0 / IRAN 2 UZBEKISTAN 1
FINAL ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
| Iran |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
+5 |
9 |
| Uzbekistan |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
-4 |
6 |
| Australia |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
= |
3 |
| Vietnam |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
10 |
-9 |
0 |
