Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ras Al Khaimah: Korea Republic took a step closer to extending their AFC U-19 Championship record on Sunday when the 11-time champions defeated Iran 4-1 to book their place in the semi-finals of the 2012 edition of the tournament.
Iran, who had conceded just once prior to the match, were stunned as goals from Moon Chang-jin (2nd), Lee Gwang-hun (49th), Kim Seung-jun (81st) and Kwon Chang-hoon (90+5) sealed a one-side victory for the Koreans. Skipper Alireza Jahan Bakhsh (29th) scored what transpired to be a consolation for the Iranians.
Korea Republic will take on Uzbekistan on Wednesday's semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, who defeated Syria 3-0 earlier in a penalty shootout win at the Fujairah Stadium.
Korea Republic breached the usually solid Iranian defence with just two minutes at the Emirates Stadium played when striker Kim Hyun nicely set up Moon, who calmly rounded Iranian keeper Mohammad Naseri before coolly guiding the ball into the net.
Moon came close to doubling the Koreans lead in the eighth minute but while his shot beat Naseri defender Mohammad Moradmand was on hand to rescue his team by clearing the ball as it rolled goalwards.
Nine goals in their previous three matches alluded to the attacking threat that Iran posed and the Koreans needed keeper Lee Chang-geun to twice deny Eshan Pahlavan in the 16th and 18th minutes before Iran skipper Bakhsh levelled the match just before the half-mark.
Bakhsh, who was on target against tournament hosts the UAE in the group stage, received possession on the edge of the area from Kwon Chang-hoon's defensive clearance and cleverly directed the ball beyond Lee for the equaliser.
Iran had a number of chances to take the lead in the remainder of the first half but were let down by some wayward and they were to be punished for their profligacy four minutes after the interval.
The Iran defence was caught napping and failed to deal with Ryu Jae-moon's long pass and after outpacing his marker the Korean playmaker sublimely controlled the ball before lashing it past Naseri to make it 2-1.
Iran had no option but to chase the game but the Koreans remained resolute in defence and dangerous on the break and scored two goals on the counter-attack with 78th minute substitute Kim Seung-jun finding the net just three minutes after entering the fray before Kwon Chang-hoon put the icing on the cake with Korea's fourth, in the fifth minute of stoppage time to seal a comfortable victory.