The second edition of the AFC U-20 Championship kicked off in spectacular fashion, with both teams employing a high-tempo strategy, as Chinese Taipei matched 2017 runners-up Iraq’s intensity in the opening minutes.

Iraq’s Sabtain Abbas Al Challabi had the first chance of the game when he lost his marker on the right flank and let loose a shot that missed the upright by mere inches.

However, it was his opposite number, Huang Yu-Wei, who opened the scoring in the third minute with a swift strike from near the second penalty spot into the bottom right corner.

When IR Iran lifted the inaugural AFC U-20 Championship title 2017, Moghadam was assistant to Ali Sanei, but the head coach says much has improved in Asian futsal since IR Iran’s 2017 triumph and he believes his team face a huge challenge.

Thailand, as hosts of the inaugural edition, finished third with players like Muhammad Osamanmusa and Ronnachai Jungwongsuk going on to make a name for themselves with the national senior squad.

Tajikistan will be Japan’s first opponents and head coach Eradzh Nasikhov said his side are prepared to take on the 2017 quarter-finalists.