Team Herald
FATORDA: Allahyar Sayyad bagged a brace as Islamic Republic of Iran advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 after a resounding 5-0 quarter-final victory over Vietnam at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium On Sunday.
Iran, who played a cautious game in the first half, scored just one goal through Ali Gholam Zadeh in the 30th minute to lead 1-0 at half time.
After the break, Iran started to play more aggressively and netted the ball four more times through Mohmmad Ghaderi (47th), substitute Alireza Asadabadi(62nd), Amir Khodamoradi (69th) and Ali Gholam Zadeh (72nd).
Vietnam began confidently and had their first chance of note on eight minutes when Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong’s powerfully struck left-foot effort from 20 yards was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Ali Gholam Zadeh.
The custodian was again on hand in the 16th minute to save Vu Quang Do’s volley from 10 yards after Nguyen Trong Long picked out the defender with a deep corner from the left.
Without their injured skipper Aref Alipour for a second game in succession, Iran came back into the tie and broke the deadlock in the before the half hour.
Ahmad Jalali picked up the ball on the left and delivered an inch-perfect delivery towards Sayyad, who got in between two defenders to head home his second goal of the tournament from six yards out.
Iran then opened up a two-goal lead a minute after the restart as Ghaderi controlled stand-in captain Mohammad Sharifi’s ball over the top with his chest before firing low into the bottom right corner from 15 yards.
In the 61st minute Iran added another through Asadabadi.
Sayyad robbed a hesitant Nguyen Thanh Binh of possession 25 yards from goal before racing into the box and, after Vietnam ‘keeper Huynh Huu Tuan got down to block the forward’s low drive, Asadabadi was on hand to tap into an empty net.
