Iran's national junior football team cruised into the final of the AFC U-16 Championship by edge passing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in penalty shootouts at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of India on Thursday.
The young Cheetahs who enjoyed until the minute 80 a one-goal margin lead against North Koreans with the minute 17 goal of captain Mohammad Sharifi conceded late in the second half and the 1-1 draw pushed the event to penalties. Kye Tam equalized for the Koreans.
Iran’s coach Abbas Chamanian fielded Ali Gholamzadeh, Taha Shariati, Saied Ahani, Amir Hossein Esmaielzadeh, Amir Hossein Khodamardi, Mohammad Sharifi, Mohammad Ghobeyshavi, Seyyed Reza Mousavian, Mohammad Ghaderi, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, and Ahmad Reza Jalali in the initial line-up.
In the other semi-final event 3 hours earlier at the DMC Stadium, Iraq thrashed Japan 4-2 to book a date with Islamic Republic of Iran in Sunday’s AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 final.
The quarterfinal competitors also secured their passage to the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India.
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