Syria stings Iraq with 2-1 win in U-19 meet
JAKARTA (JP): Iraq fell after struggling all the way as Syria stung the Iraqis 1-2 in their Asian under-19 soccer championship finals yesterday.
Both sides performed their characteristic attack-minded soccer during 90 minutes of tense play, despite the fact that only a tiny crowd of 1,000 were on hand in the 100,000-seat Senayan stadium.
The tireless teenage booters started off the match with numerous goal-scoring attempts, but from the outset Syria looked to be the lucky side.
Midfielder Abdul Kader Refai harvested a goal from a scrimmage at Iraq's goal mouth in the 15th minute with a devastating shot. Goalie Khalid Al Risan managed only a shaky tip which let Abdul Malik Azizi slot home the ball.
Trailing 0-1, the Iraqi squad, 3-2 winners over Kazakhstan on Sunday, moved up the pace with elegant Amer Mushrif Mehsen leading the center field charge. The well-knit partnership, however, could not find the target until the half time, mainly due to the solid Syrian defense.
Iraq was an inch shy from equalizing when Haider Radhi, a real menace in the right flank, sent a cross to the unmarked Mehsen a minute after the break. Mehsen's header went a meter away from the Syrian goal post guarded by Amnar Sheicho.
Reserve Oussay Hashim Salih proved to be what Iraq needed when he gave his team an equalizer in the 54th minute, thanks to Mohammad Hasan's well-aimed cross.
Ahmad Kurdachli scored the winning goal for Syria, which qualified for the tournament after toppling title holder Saudi Arabia, with a brilliant free kick piercing a pack of Iraqi defenders.
"It was a difficult game. We shared the same chances to win," Syrian coach Anatoly Baidachni said after the match. Syria will meet host Indonesia tomorrow.
Second loss
Earlier yesterday, Kazakhstan suffered another 3-2 loss this time against Qatar, on the third day of the 29th Asian Youth Under-19 soccer championship at Senayan stadium.
The relatively quiet crowd watched on as Qatar closed the first half with a 2-0 lead goals scored by Nasser Ahmed in the 17th minute and Abdulla Mohamed in the 23rd.
The Indonesian crowd gradually showed support for the Central Asian country as it aggressively struck back and evened the score through Sergei Blokhine in the 59th minute, who took advantage of Qatar's unguarded midfield, and Kyzylbaev Bakhit in the 85th.
During the time the two equalizing goals were made, Kazakhstan managed to control the play although failing on several attempts to score from the left flank.
However, Kazakhstan's ability to maintain the draw was shattered as Qatar regained its form and Mohd struck a winning goal about three minutes before the end of the second half. Nasser, was later announced the match's best player.
Coach Humberto Redes of Qatar said proudly that although he was happy with his team's victory, he was disappointed that Ahmad Mubarak, considered the team's backbone, had to be removed due to injury.
Qatar's Rahman Mubarak was shown a yellow card after a brawl against Kazakhstan's Kyzylbaev Bakhit, who was later sent off for his second yellow card. Bakhit had earlier booked for hitting the ball with his hand.
Another yellow card was shown to Kazakhstani Issaev Nourlan.
Humberto was dissatisfied with Sri Lankan referee Yapa A. Mahasena because "he was silent although he knew how Kazakhstan's players grabbed the T-shirts of our players."
Kazakhstani coach Talgat N.M. Bertov commented, "it's a pity to lose such a match in this way." (arf/amd)
Today's fixture: 5.30 p.m.: S.Korea vs Thailand 7.30 p.m.: Bahrain vs Japan