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AFC - A stoppage time goal by Pak Chol-min
helped DPR Korea defeat Tajikistan 1-0 and steal into the quarterfinals of
the AFC Youth Championship ahead of Iran who edged Japan 2-1 in the final
Group C matches here in the Garden City of India.
No sooner had Indian referee Subrata Sarkar blown the final whistle at the
Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the Iranians started celebrating, presuming that
the DPR Korea-Tajikistan match, scoreless in the first minute of stoppage
time at the Bangalore Football Stadium, was destined to end without a goal
being posted, which would have sent them through to the next stage.
But their joy turned into anguish when a floater from Jong Chol-min into the
Tajikistan box in the last minute of added time saw Pak Chol-min pounce on
the ball and head it home beyond goalkeeper Abduaziz Mahkamov for a
last-gasp win and a spot in the last eight on goal difference.
Japan, DPR Korea and Iran all finished on six points from two wins each.
With the number of goals scored acting as the first tiebreaker in case of a
tie in points, Japan (+5) and DPR Korea (+4) qualified while Iran (-2) were
left rueing their bad luck. Debutants Tajikistan failed to open their
account.
Iran’s Brazilian coach Alberto Oliviera put on a brave face despite the
heartbreak which left his charges in tears after news about DPR Korea’s late
goal and win trickled in. “I am very proud and happy despite the fact that
we could not make it to the quarterfinals,” said Oliviera. “We did not have
the luck.”
DPR Korea coach Jo Tong-sop was delighted with the narrow win. “The onus was
on us to score the goal. You know how it was when we didn’t until the 92nd
minute. The pressure was immense but full credit to the players for this
victory.”
Japan took the lead in the 22nd minute through Tsukasa Umesaki but Iran
overturned the deficit with a 52nd minute strike from Kamaleddin Kamyabinia
before Farhad Al Khamis tapped in the winner on 72 minutes.
With only a heavy defeat threatening Japan’s chances of reaching the last
eight, coach Yasushi Yoshida dropped as many as five members from the team
which clinically took apart Tajikistan 4-0 in their second group game on
Tuesday. It was time for a role on the bench for Shunsuke Tsutumi, Yohei
Fukumoto, Masaki Yamamoto, Kazuhisa Kawahara and Masato Morishige, who
scored in the previous outing.
Their places in the first eleven were filled by Atomu Tanaka, Masaki
Yanagawa, Jun Yanagisawa, Kota Aoki and Jun Aoyama.
Oliviera gave a start to Atabak Namazi, Mehrdad Kafshgari and Hassan
Yousefi, keeping on the bench Mehdi Chamanara, Khalili Alashti and Meisam
Mohajer Navrodi.
Japan shot out of the blocks like a rocket and were rewarded with a free
kick 40 yards out in the third minute when Esmael Gharvi clattered into
Aoki, earning a yellow card for his troubles. The shot, executed by Tanaka,
had to be fisted out by a soaring Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi.
Aoki disarmed Milad Zanidpour two minutes later on the left edge of the area
and reached the goalmouth after bamboozling his marker but fired straight
down the throat of Haghighi.
Iran’s reply in the ninth minute was a solid move when Gharvi came close to
making amends for his earlier caution with a sprint into the area to lash
out at a low cross from the right only to miss narrowly. Mostafa Chatrabgoon
then was gifted with a half-chance but drove his shot high and wide.
As the first half approached the midway mark, Yosuke Kashiwagi’s brilliant
approach work saw Japan getting their nose ahead. Kashiwagi received the
ball from the right and was immediately hounded by three Iranian defenders
but held on under pressure to slip the ball to Umesaki on the left in a
one-on-one. The Oita Trinita man then showed why he is Japan senior team
stuff when, confronted by the giant Iranian custodian, displayed nerves of
steel and slotted the ball cleanly into the right corner.
The goal was perhaps harsh on the Iranians who had held their own so far.
In the 30th minute Chatrabgoon went close and 10 minutes later Gharvi looked
dangerous after weaving into the area but over-elaboration in front of the
strong Japanese defence never pays and he was ruthlessly dispossessed.
In between this, however, Kashiwagi, who earned the free kick after being
brought down by Kafshgari 20 yards out, was denied by the woodwork when his
shot rattled the bar after eluding a diving Haghighi
Iran almost claimed the equaliser on the stroke of half time as striker
Namazi connected to a cross from Mehrdad Pooladi but Japanese goalkeeper
Akihiro Hayashi sprung to his left to slap it out for a corner just before
the referee blew the whistle for half time.
It is not known what Iranian coach Oliviera told his charges during the
break but they pinned Japan back after the restart in aggressive fashion.
After Ali Amiri had gone close in the 47th minute Shahram Goudarzi took
matters into his own hands and created the equaliser in classic fashion. The
hitman forced his way past three hulking defenders from the right channel
and shook the near post with a right-footed shot, leaving substitute
Kamyabinia, in for Ali in the 46th minute, to tap home the rebound.
Suddenly it was all Iran. The white shirts seemed to be camping in the rival
half as Japan retreated in full force, save for the odd break which was well
handled by the Iranians backline.
Iran almost doubled the advantage in the 66th minute when a marauding
Goudarzi forced Hayashi into a low save with his close-range header at the
near post. Their persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when Pooladi
whipped a 25-yard free kick into the crowded box and defender Farhad Al
Khamis outjumped the others to head the ball home.
Kamyabinia missed a good chance after a solo effort in the death even as
Japan came close to scoring in a goalmouth melee.
“We were left to beat Japan, the best team here in Bangalore, by more than
five goals with just 48 hours rest,” lamented Oliviera. “It was always going
to be difficult.”
Japan coach Yoshida said his side failed to be consistent. “Youth teams are
not consistent. They tend to be good one day and poor the other. I changed
the side because three players were under single cautions and two others
were not well.”
“Our rhythm was poor in the second half and this saw the goals being scored
against us.”
DPR Korea trainer Jo said his team’s performance was better in the second
half. “We played better in the second half, but the players were somewhat
tired and nervous. This was a decisive match so the pressure was on us. It
was difficult for them to make the right decisions. They were not prepared
well mentally. “
“For the quarterfinals, we will concentrate fully. We have not seen Iraq or
Saudi in action. We know only the results of their matches so it doesn’t
matter who we meet in the quarterfinals.”
The quarterfinal match-ups on November 6 will pit Japan against the
runners-up of Group D while DPR Korea will have to play and beat the Group D
toppers for a spot in the semifinals which take place on November 9 at the
Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
The Final is scheduled for November 12 at the same venue.
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