UAE beat Iraq in Asian U16 C’ship qualifiers

Bishkek: UAE defeated Iraq 1-0, while hosts Kyrgyzstan came from behind to beat Lebanon 3-2 in Group F of the AFC U-16 Championship 2020 qualifiers at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium on Wednesday.

UAE’s first half goal was enough to see off Iraq as they began their qualifying campaign on a positive note, while Kyrgyzstan came back from two goals down to edge Lebanon.

Both teams were evenly matched in the opening minutes with neither able to find a way through.

However, the Emiratis broke the deadlock in the 39th minute through Sultan Adil Mohamed’s strike and the goal separated the sides going into the break.

Iraq’s best efforts to find the equaliser failed in the second half as UAE held on for a valuable three points.

UAE will be aiming for another three points when they meet hosts Kyrgyzstan on Friday while Iraq look to bounce back against Lebanon.

Ibrahim Khalaf gave Lebanon the lead in the 10th minute and Rayan Nassereddine found the back of the net 11 minutes later to give the West Asians a comfortable looking 2-0 lead going into the break.

Kyrgyzstan, however, came out fighting in the second half and pulled one back through Beknaz Almazbekov in the 62nd minute.

With half an hour left in the game, the Central Asians surged in search of the equaliser and Aalambek Abylkasymov drew them level in the 72nd minute.

There was to be more from Abylkasymov as he completed a magnificent comeback for Kyrgyzstan by netting the winner five minutes from the final whistle.

Elsewhere, Oman saw off a resilient Pakistan while a dominant Saudi Arabia cruised to victory over Syria in Group D.

Oman, two-time winners of the AFC U-16 Championship, defeated Pakistan 2-0 while Saudi Arabia, also two-time champions, saw off Syria 4-1.

Oman were made to work for the win as Pakistan gave everything they had in search of an upset.

Saudi Arabia were quick off the starting blocks as midfielder Abdullah Bandar Zaid gave them the lead in the eighth minute.

The lead was soon doubled as Suhayb Ayman Alzaid scored Saudi Arabia’s second in the 17th minute. They continued to press and Muhannad Abdullah Barrah widened Saudi Arabia’s advantage further with his strike in the 39th minute.

Syria, to their credit, fought back and gave themselves hope when striker Anis Kassem reduced the deficit in first half stoppage time.

Saudi Arabia were content to protect their lead in the second half and Syria found it hard to penetrate and there was more woe for them eight minutes from the end as Barrah scored his second goal of the night.

The India U-16 boys’ team marched on to yet another win, this time defeating Central Asian side Turkmenistan 5-0.