Iran U-20 football team beats Costa Rica 1-0 at FIFA World Cup
Iran national under-20 football team, also known as Iran Youth Team, has defeated Costa Rica in its opening match at the preliminary round of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-20 World Cup.
On Sunday, the Persians started the Group C fixture at Jeju World Cup Stadium of the southwestern South Korean city of Seogwipo in a better fashion.
The Iran Youth Team sought to utilize a distinct height advantage, and seal the victory. However, Costa Rica’s stronger possession game did not allow them to progress, and the pattern continued until the latter stages.
At last, Iranian striker Mehdi Mehdikhani broke the deadlock with nine minutes to go. Unmarked at the far post, he chested down the ball and fired low into the bottom left corner to snatch all three points of the match.
“We won the match after 40 years but it will not be our last win in the tournament. The first match is the most difficult match but our players did well in both halves and we earned a valuable victory,” Iran coach Amirhossein Peyrovani said in the post-match news conference.
“We advanced to the World Cup after 16 years and it’s a good feeling. Iran U-18 football team have also qualified for the World Cup and our senior team will most likely advance to the 2018 World Cup. It shows we have so many talented players in our country,” he added.
Iran national under-20 football team is scheduled to take on Zambia on Wednesday in its second group stage match.
“Zambia played well against Portugal; but Portugal missed several chances as well. The match against Zambia can be the group decider match for both teams,” Peyrovani pointed out.
The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup kicked off in South Korea on May 20 and will finish on June 11.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is in Group C with Costa Rica, Portugal and Zambia.
Argentina, England, Guinea and South Korea have been drawn in Group A. Germany, Mexico, Vanuatu and Venezuela shape Group B.
Group D consists of Italy, Japan, South Africa and Uruguay. France, Honduras, New Zealand and Vietnam are in Group E.
Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and the United States form Group F.
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