Damascus, Sept 8, IRNA -- The under-23 soccer squad of Iran finished
third at the 2nd West Asian tournament Saturday.
Playing on the pitch of Abbassin Stadium, Damascus, the two sides
tied 2-2 after 90 minutes and Iran won 6-4 on penalties.
Syria opened the scoring in the 15th minute as Nihad Haj Mustafa
lobbed the ball to Anas Sari who headed past Iranian keeper Ebrahim
Mirzapour.
Iranian striker Jalal Kameli headed home a free-kick in the 59th
minute and his teammate Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi made it 2-1 three
minutes from the normal time. Sari stunned Iran as his header
equalized the match 2-2 just one minute later.
There was no golden goal and extra time and the penalty shootouts
decided the winner.
Iran converted four but the Syrian players netted two as Mirzapour
saved a penalty kick and defender Tareq Jabban shot wide another to
help Iran snatch the third title.
Secretary General of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Peter Velappan watched the Iran-Syria match.
Iraq lifts 2nd West Asia soccer trophy
Damascus, Sept 8, IRNA -- Iraq won the 2nd West Asian soccer title as
it beat the Jordanian side 3-2 here Saturday.
Skipper Haydar Majid headed home in the 12th minute of extra time,
helping Iraq to grab the top title.
Iraq-Jordan match in the Abbasin Stadium, Damascus, ended 2-2 in
the normal time.
In the third minute, striker Mustafa abu Rumeyeh scoring the
fastest goal of the tournament, putting Jordan into the lead.
Jordan hit the second in the 28th minute when striker Amer Deeb
dribbled past Iraqi goalie Saad Jammel, side-footing the ball into the
net.
But Iraq's midfielder Razak Mousa minimized the gap three minutes
later as he headed home a deflected free-kick.
As the Jordanians were congratulating each other, Younis Khalaf of
Iraq spoiled their party as he found the net in the 89th minute.
Haydar Majid poured cold water on the Jordanian camp when his
header kissed the net in the 12th minute of the first extra time,
giving the Iraqis the golden goal and championship.
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, head of the West Asian Football
Federation was on hand to see the derby.
In the earlier match for third place, Iran beat Syria 6-4 in
penalty shootouts after the two teams tied 2-2.
Iran stood top in the first West Asian event held in Jordan in
2000.
