U-17 in FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals

Iran played a tactical game to outwit Mexico 2-1 in Goa, Tuesday, and reached first-ever quarterfinal round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The young Iranians exploited their rival’s weak defense to score through Mohammed Sharifi (7th) and Allahyar Sayyad (11th), Sportskeeda.com reported.

Mexico also created several chances but were either off the target or failed to belittle rival keeper Ali Gholamzadeh.

Down by two goals, Mexico played quick short passes to unsettle Iran’s defense that had come with five defenders. The Mexicans finally managed to reduce the margin in the 37th minute through Roberto De la Rosa.

Each time Iran’s defense fell apart, it was keeper Gholamzadeh who came up with some smart saves, especially in the second half, to deny the Americans a chance to score goals.

Aware that Mexico is good on the attack side, Iran adopted a cautious approach to keep the rival’s strategy at bay and waited for the opportune time to punish their weak defense.

Iran earned a penalty in the 7th minute when Mexico defender Adrian Vazquez brought down Mohammed Ghaderi while going for the ball inside the box. Referee Anthony Taylor wasted no time in awarding the penalty, which Sharifi converted successfully.

Mexico’s faltering defense was exposed again hardly four minutes later as Sayyad placed the ball into the net, past the advancing keeper Cesar Lopez.

Mexico kept on attacking with a series of moves and after missing some close chances managed to find the net.

Roberto De la Rosa found the back of the net off a rebound from the top of the box after the Iranian keeper managed to block Diego Lainez’s left-footed shot.

  Smart Saves

The second half was livelier as both teams decided that attack was the better thing to do  and the two goalkeepers made some good saves.

Mexico strikers Lopez and La Rosa worked in tandem and with good support from their midfielder, they kept attacking but Iran’s keeper showed the futility of their moves.

Iran also had its share of exchanges and scoring chances but could not breach keeper Lopez as he came out of his charge twice to block Younes Delfi and Sayyad’s shots from close.

Mexico could have scored another goal but luck was not on its side as Jairo Torres’ shot from a difficult angle off a free kick hit the left post.

Iran’s Younes Delfi, who received a yellow in the 80th minute, the second in the tournament for rough tackle, will miss the quarterfinal against Spain

Iran will travel to Kochi for the quarterfinal match with Spain that scored the last-minute winner in their pre-quarterfinals against France in Guwahati.