![\"football](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/football-icon.jpg\"){kind=icon}
Goa: Substitute Alireza Asadabadi’s winner capped a stunning come-from-behind victory for Iran as they defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship opener in Group A on Thursday.<\/p>\nGoa: Substitute Alireza Asadabadi’s winner capped a stunning come-from-behind victory for Iran as they defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship opener in Group A on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Mansor Al Beshe had begun the day’s action in stunning fashion with a superb strike inside five minutes before Dhari Al Anazi doubled the advantage just before the break.<\/p>\n
Iran roared back after half-time though and Allahyar Sayyad made it 2-1 two minutes into the second period before first Mohammad Sharifi and then Asadabadi completed the comeback in a dramatic two-minute spell at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.<\/p>\n
Midfielder Al Beshe netted the tournament’s first goal in spectacular style four minutes in as he unleashed a thunderous strike from fully 25-yards out that rocketed into the net past the despairing dive of Meraj Esmaeili in the Iran goal.<\/p>\n
The Iranians looked to restore parity in swift succession and captain Aref Alipour did go close with a free-kick from distance on 19 minutes.<\/p>\n
And just after the half-hour, Mohammad Ghaderi went even closer as the midfielder wriggled into the penalty area before striking a firm shot that was well saved by Hashem Al Asmari.<\/p>\n
Abbas Chamnian’s team continued to press for an equaliser but were kept out by a resolute Saudi side who then went on to extend their lead three minutes before half-time when Mali crossed in from the left for the onrushing Al Anazi to steer home.<\/p>\n
Within the seconds of the restart Iran could have reduced the deficit but Sayyad volleyed Saeid Ahani’s cross over the bar.<\/p>\n
The substitute was not to be denied a second time in quick succession though as on the 47th minute Sayyad broke through on goal and struck the ball emphatically past Al Asmari.<\/p>\n
The action flashed from end-to-end as Al Anazi could have restored the two goal cushion but somehow blazed over from six-yards out after Esmaeili could only parry Mali’s shot.<\/p>\n
But in the space of just two minutes the game and scoreline had turned on its head.<\/p>\n
On 68 minutes, Mohammad Sharifi turned home from a goalmouth scramble after a corner and just moments later, with Saudi Arabia still reeling from the leveller, Asadabadi found himself one-on-one with Al Asmari and finished coolly to spark frenzied celebrations on the Iran bench.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia could have snatched a point at the death as Mali flicked the ball on for Naif Al Mas but the captain could only blaze over as Iran secured the victory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Goa: Substitute Alireza Asadabadi’s winner capped a stunning come-from-behind victory for Iran as they defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship opener in Group A on Thursday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[6606,17902,12975,466,17903],"class_list":["post-28777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-football","tag-afc-u-16-championship","tag-alireza-asadabadi","tag-football-news","tag-indian-sports-news","tag-iran-vs-saudi-arabia"],"yoast_head":"\n