Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Isa Town: Saudi Arabia and Islamic Republic of Iran arrived in Bahrain determined to make a lasting impression at the AFC U-19 Championship Bahrain 2016. Despite their domination at the senior level, both sides have to take on a long trip down memory lane to recall their last triumph. The young Green Falcons’ previous championship victory came 24 years ago in 1992 while Iran’s last coup stretches further back 40 years in 1976.
Like most evenly fought contests, the match was waiting eagerly for a definitive moment of magic. A dazzling run, an overhead kick, a perfectly floated defence splitting pass. The match between the two Asian giants produced not just one but all of those moments.
Abdurrahman Al Yami may have only scored once so far in the AFC-19 Championship, but the striker could not have picked a better time to register the competition’s first-ever hat-trick as Saudi Arabia outmuscled Iran to a 6-5 victory.
“I am extremely happy to score the first hat-trick in the competition but this must go down as a victory for the team first and foremost. It was an unbelievable match and we are very proud to reach the final,” the teenager told the-AFC.com.
On Thursday, Al Yami, who was first introduced to the beautiful game at the age of four, was synonymous with almost every drive forward, including a spellbinding surge, where Saudi Arabia weaved together 15 passes before scoring their third of the night.
With the victory and the coveted place in the final now secured, Al Yami believes that the championship is now finally within their grasp. But the young Green Falcons’ road to the final was never straightforward after losing their opening match to Bahrain.
“We have definitely improved throughout the tournament. I think at the beginning we were quite nervous, but we needed to believe in our own strengths and abilities.
"Over the last few days, especially during training, there has been better communication and we are enjoying ourselves. I think that was shown and made the difference tonight.”
Announcing his pedigree to the continent, the young striker, who idolises Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, added, “We are so close now. Nothing would please me more than to score again in the final and win this competition for Saudi Arabia. My target is another hat-trick in the final!”
Photo: AFC