Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Mashhad: Hosts Iran became the first team to notch a win in the Group D qualifiers for the AFC U-14 Championship 2014 after beating India 3-1 at the Samen Al Aemeh Stadium on Tuesday.
The Indian boys were the first to score a goal through the effort of Jitendra Singh only five minutes into the game but Iranian striker Aref Mohammadalipour equalised 14 minutes later.
Defender Mohammedreza Davari took the Iranians one up six minutes later and a penalty by Zabihollah Kohkan seven minutes from time extinguished any hopes for India of making a comeback.
In the other opening day game, Turkmenistan drew 1-1 with Kyrgyzstan.
Iran will continue their campaign for the inaugural continental U-14 competition when they face Turkmenistan on Friday while India will lock horns with Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday.
Forty-six nations are in the qualification and are divided into four zones of two groups each (total eight groups) with the top two teams from each zone (total eight teams) qualifying for the finals.