AFC U-22 C'ship: Iran 3-1Kuwait

Rezaei’s hat-trick saw the prolific forward end the tournament with five goals from three games, with Kuwait midfielder Sultan Al Enezi scoring a late consolation goal on the stroke of full-time to open his nation’s account for the tournament.

However, Japan’s 4-0 defeat of Australia in the group’s other fixture meant that both Iran and Kuwait were eliminated from the competition at the first hurdle.

“We were not well prepared for the tournament from the beginning, but I during the tournament I saw my players grow up. I saw my players react to the competition game-by-game. You could see easily today that they have the capability to be at a higher level,” said Iran coach Human Afazeli.

“What I think was the most important thing in this tournament is to see youngsters grow up for the future of football in Iran and Asia.”

Afazeli also took time to single out the starring performance played by striker Rezaei, who scored all but one of Iran’s goals in the tournament.

“His performance was a pleasant surprise for me as he normally plays on the right or left side for Saipa,” added Afazeli. “I think I’ll have some words with his coach when I return.”

A tenuous opening saw the first real chance fall to Iran within 17 minutes when a long ball from the middle of the field found Mehdi Shiri ghosting into the left-hand side of the penalty area, but the unmarked midfielder could only direct his header over the crossbar as the Kuwait defence appealed in vain for offside.

And with 14 minutes of the half remaining Shiri once more popped up inside the area, this time fed with a cute ball by striker Rezaei that bisected the defence, and the 22-year-old should have done better with a shot that rolled wide of Sulaiman Abdulghafoor’s right-hand post.

Kuwait were struggling to impose themselves on the game and on the stroke of half-time Rezaei had a golden chance to break the deadlock with a close range shot on the turn that brought a smart save from Abdulghafoor, diving low to his right to turn the ball around the post.

The pattern of the game continued in the second half and just eight minutes after the restart a slip by Adal Matar let in Fardin Abedini whose shot was beaten out by the Kuwait custodian.

But the goalkeeper was unable to maintain his heroics indefinitely and on 63 minutes Iran made the breakthrough as a cross from Vahid Esmaeilibeigi from the right flank was met by a spectacular scissor kick by second half substitute Benham Barzay, and although Abdulghafoor parried the athletic strike, the ball was met by a diving header from Rezaei that flew into the net.

And four minutes later the striker had his second as Esmaeilibeigi again found space on the right, but this time chose to cut inside and unleash an effort that Abdulghafoor could not handle at his near post and the predatory Rezaei again followed up the loose ball.

Kuwait had their first chance of note on 69 minutes as set-piece specialist Faisal Al Harbi fired narrowly over with a free-kick from 20 yards out that landed on the top of the goal.

But with nine minutes left Iran underlined their dominance of the game with Rezaei completing his hat-trick after controlling a long ball, holding off defender Abdulrahman Al Enezi, and steering clinically past Abdulghafoor who was rooted to his line.

Kuwait, though, belatedly got their first goal of the tournament deep into stoppage time

with Al Enezi scoring with his final touch of the game as the midfielder broke through the Iran backline to drive past goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand.

“Today’s match was a like a final for us. We have tried our best, the boys worked very hard,” said Kuwait coach Jorvan Vieira.

“After the first goal we lost our concentration, we pushed forward and Iran hit us on the counter-attack. But it’s OK, that’s normal and understandable as it’s just a matter of experience. I was pleased that we were fighting to the end.

“We have to turn a page now and look to the future as these boys grow up.”