AFC U-16: UAE fights back to hold Iran

Iran played an aggressive game, had more of the ball possession as well as scoring chances. The team found the net through substitute Alireza Asadabadi in the 49th minute at Fatorda.

UAE and Iran players fight for the ball during their AFC U-16 championship match in Goa.

United Arab Emirates came from behind to hold Iran to a 1-1 draw in its group A match of the AFC U-16 Football Championship here today.

Iran played an aggressive game, had more of the ball possession as well as scoring chances. The team found the net through substitute Alireza Asadabadi in the 49th minute at Fatorda.

UAE, which was on the backfoot for most part of the game, did well to restore parity through Abed Alazez Dawod in the 51st minute.

Both the teams have four points each after today’s encounter.

Iran will play its last match on September 21 against India, while UAE will lock horns with Saudi Arabia on the same day.

Looking for its second successive win, Iran started aggressively and applied pressure on its opponent, but a resolute UAE defence fought tooth and nail in the first half.

Luck also did not smile on Iran as Aref Mohammedlipour’s header hit the bar off Amirhossein Esmaeilzadeh cross.

Iran coach Abbas Chamananian than introduecd Alireza Asadabadi in place of Mohammad Reza Ghobeishavi and the ploy succeeded when the substitute scored off a pass from Amir Khodamoradi.

However, Iran’s joy was shortlived as UAE retaliated when Abed Alazez Dawad found the net from the top of the box two minutes later.