Syrians lift Asian Under-19 soccer crown

JAKARTA (JP): Mahmoud Mahmalji was the hero and toast of Syrian team as he struck two goals to lift his side to a 2-1 victory over Japan for the 29th Asian Youth Under-19 championship title yesterday.

Mahmalji, a menace in the left flank for the shaky Japanese defense, gave his side a 1-0 lead three minutes into the break -- capitalizing on a scrimmage with a devastating shot from the close range.

The goal was just an appetizer for the Middle Eastern squad, the 1988 runner-up, who clearly took the initiative during the first half. The fast running Mahmalji beat his way past a dazed Seiji Honda again ten minutes after the interval, despite the close coverage from Japanese defenders.

The Syrians would have enjoyed a goal spree if they had managed to overcome their nerves. Long before scoring the opening goal, Mahmalji fell in the last hurdles on the hand of a brave Honda twice. The Japan's goalie parried another terror a few seconds into the second half, when Ahmad Kurdachli's meteoric free-kick hit the bar.

Trailing 0-2, Japan's never-say-die boys -- who showed quite a different performance when they routed Iraq 3-0 in Friday's semifinals -- upped the pressure. The relentless assaults led by Suguru Ito paid off in the 67th minute when Susumu Oki sprinted past Syrian defenders, rounded goalie Ammar Sheicho before calmly driving the ball into the open net.

Hidetoshi Nakata came closer to leveling the tie when he volleyed past a stranded Sheicho during a fast counter attack. Tarek Jabban, however, managed a clearance with his header to deny an upset equalizer.

Nerve wrecking

Earlier yesterday, a nerve-breaking 4-3 win in penalty shoot out gave Thailand third spot at the finals of the Asian Under-19 soccer championship.

Thailand held Iraq 0-0 until the first half before Anan Panthong scored a goal on receiving a pass from Somrit Ornsomchit in the 50th minute.

Undaunted with the deficit the Iraqis continued to fight to equalize the score which was fruited 12 minutes later through Amer Mushrif.

Thailand could not field Tawan Sripan due to two yellow cards he received in the previous matches, while Kiatisuk Senamuang and Wacharapong Somcit due to injuries. The players are Thailand's best trio.

However, even without its best, Thailand proved that it could manage to make the Iraqis onslaught to their bay throughout the match, including in the four penalty attempts which resulted in 1-1, 0-0, 0-1 and 1-0 scores.

In the fifth and final kickspot shot, Thailand was relief after Kowit Foytong scored a goal which turned it into an euphoria after its goalie Saravouth Cambua successfully parried Iraqi Mohannad M. Hasan's penalty shot.

"Our goal keeper is very famous in saving penalty kicks," Thailand's coach, Chatchai Phaholpai, told reporters after the match.

Chatchai is right. After Iraq evened up the score in 62th through midfielder Amer Mushrif Mehsen, Saravouth has brilliantly saved Thailand's goal post many times.

Boosted by its ability to equalize Thailand's first goal made by forwarder Anan Panthong in the 50th, Iraq boys began to aggressively attack Thailand's booters, who are shorter and seemed less stronger than the Iraqis.

The ambitious but cleverly plotted attacks resulted in many one to one, penalty-like situations. However, even though Iraq many times managed to zero in on these rare chances, Saravouth always succeeded in nullifying those penalty-like shoots.

After Thailand's victory was nailed, Iraqi coach Akram Salman, though praising the Thais by calling them a very good team, said that his team had played very well, too.

Unlike Thailand which scored their first goal through one chance only, Akram said, his team could actually have done more than just leveling the score if it had not missed the many golden opportunities they had cleverly created. (arf/amd)