Iran rally to beat India 2-1 in AFC U-16 Women's Qualifiers

Iranian substitute Fatemeh Hosseni turned on the heat by scoring two late goals to overturn India’s lead which they held on for better part of the match courtesy first half strike from India midfielder Premi Chiru. The win sees Iran consolidate their place at the top of the group while India will need to pick themselves up in the next match against hosts Bangladesh.

“The girls played well. But Iran were too good in the second half. They just had to score,” conceded India Head Coach Maymol Rocky at the post match media interaction.

“I believe we can come back and this is just the first game. We need to keep focus for ninety minutes in the next game,” she added.

“I spoke to my girls at halftime and told them India’s weakness,” revealed rival coach Shadi Mahini.

“We were tired in the first half but I am glad girls kept that aside and played so well in the second,” she added.

If the first half belonged to India, the second was surely Iran’s. After India had taken an early lead through Premi and help from rival goalkeeper Mobina, it took Iran 71 minutes to level. Substitute Hosseini did the magic and it was she again in the thick of things three minutes to full time, handing her side a memorable win.

Iran did not tinker with the team that thrashed UAE 9-0 while it was India’s first match.

India could have taken the lead as early as in the 5th minute. Nisha was put though by Roja Devi one on one with keeper Mobina who showed good presence of mind to not leave her line, acrobatically stretching to her right to cling on to the ball from handshaking distance.

That India were hungry to take the lead was clear from Daya Devi’s attitude. The Manipuri striker wrestled her way past two defenders as if her life depended on it, to find some space before being hacked down by one. The resultant free kick went straight to the keeper.

Good intentions were not made to wait much longer as India, for all their pressing and midfield coordination in the early minutes, surged ahead albeit riding luck.

Goalkeeper Mobina who looked fish out of water after that fifth minute save, inexplicably passed the ball to Premi who not expecting the gift could not get her all behind the ball, resulting in the keeper recovering to get something on it. But so meek was her second effort that the ball slipped under her body and crawled into the goal.

Already on the charge, the goal spurred the girls in blue so much that they won three corners in the space of three minutes forcing Iran to deploy eight players in their own half. This is the same Iran that at most times did not even have two players in their own half in their opening match.

Flailing Iran keeper who went down twice after the gaffe was eventually replaced in the 39th minute with second choice under the bar Sefati taking her place between the sticks. Mobina was taken to the hospital after complaining of sickness.

Iran’s half was summed up by Ghasemi – scorer of four goals in the last match – skewing wide a chance from a good position inside the box.

The second episode looked better for the red shirts but lacked climax until the 71st minute. Ghasemi tried to from a variety of positions near the box – first from just outside the box, then a lob from close and a close range jab – to score but found India pouring cold water on her plans all the time.

Better late than never, Iran’s industry in the final third was rewarded. Substitute Fatehmeh Hosseini slalomed past three players including the keeper to guide the ball home. Five minutes later the same player missed by a whisker from close.

By the high flying substitute was not to be denied moments from the final whistle. A lapse of concentration in midfield from India saw Sana latch on to the loose ball and set up Hosseini, who smashed in a stinging effort from inside the box.

India next play Bangladesh on Sunday at 4:30 PM IST

Final Score: India 1 (Premi Chiru – 13th)    --  Iran 2 (Fatemeh Hosseni – 71st, 87th)

INDIA: Shreya Hooda; Jabamani Tudu, Thahenbi Devi Maharabam, Amrita Kumari (C), Anline Fernandes; Srijana Tamang, Nisha (Anushka Samuel  -- 56th), Kashmina, Premi Chiru; Roja Devi, Daya Devi (Lifa Gama – 76th).

Reporting by-- Debayan Mukherjee,