FATORDA: A fine brace from Muntadher Mohammed helped Iraq claim an impressive 2-1 win over Korea Republic in their AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 Group C opener, at Nehru Stadium, on Friday.
Korea Republic went in front on 43 minute through Jeong Chan-young, only for Mohammed to level from the spot just seconds before the interval.
Mohammed netted his second penalty of the afternoon early in the second half.
After an even opening the 2014 runners-up Korea Republic had the first sight on goal when Park Jeong-in lashed into the side-netting from a narrow angle on 12 minutes.
The deadlock was finally broken two minutes before half-time when Kim Tae-hwan beat Ammar Mohammed down the right side before pulling back for Jeong to finish from 15 yards.
But the West Asians responded in perfect fashion when Mohammed stroked home his penalty in first-half stoppage time after Kim Min-hyeok was adjudged to have handled the midfielder’s cross from the left.
Then four minutes after the restart Kim Tae-hwan upended Mohammed in the box and this time the influential number six sent goalkeeper Park Ji-min the wrong way by firing low to his left to put his side 2-1 up.
Korea Republic then should have levelled with a minute left on the clock, but Cheon Seong-hoon headed Park Chan-bin’s cross wide from close in as the Iraqis held out.
