Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Wuhan: A brace from Ma Xiaolan helped China edge closer to the last four of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship as the hosts secured a 4-0 victory over Iran in Group A at Xinhua Road Stadium on Friday.
Gao Hong’s side took control of the game from the off and midfielder Ma opened the scoring midway through the first half, before forward Chen Yuanmeng doubled her side’s advantage three minutes before the half-hour.
The Young Steel Roses continued to dominate after the interval but had to wait until 10 minutes from time for substitute Wang Yanwen to make it three before Ma rounded off the scoring three minutes into stoppage time.
“We fought well and won; as I said previously, we would play better,” said coach Gao, whose side now need just a point from their final group outing with already-qualified Thailand to progress to the semi-finals.
“We changed the team for both reasons [to rest and try new players]. It is very important at youth level for everyone to experience the tournament. But I also consider the 11 today the same as the other players in the squad.”
The hosts changed their entire starting line-up from the side that drew 3-3 with Korea Republic in their Group A opener, and they had their first sight on goal on the 15-minute mark when forward Zhou Ping bisected the Iranian defence with an inch-perfect ball to Chen, but her effort was tipped onto the post by Iran goalkeeper Mina Nafeei.
But Gao’s team did then open the scoring on 22 minutes after Ma raced onto a through ball before turning the Iran backline inside out and slotting past Nafeei to make it 1-0.
And China went two up in the 27th minute after Chen did well to prevent the ball running out on the right byline before cutting back and side-footing into the far corner.
Chen then should have doubled her tally on the half-hour mark after she ran onto another defence-splitting pass from Zhou only to see her low effort past the advancing Nafeei go agonisingly wide of the right post.
The second half continued in much the same fashion, with Ma slipping in Zhou 12 minutes after the restart, but Nafeei go the better of the one-on-one dual as she was quick off her line to save well.
Then on 67 minutes, Chen sprayed the ball wide to midfielder Yang Qian, who cut inside from the right before directing her first attempt at goalkeeper Nafeei and the follow-up just wide of the top right corner.
But China did then add a third with 10 minutes left on the clock when the impressive Chen played in Wang, who poked the ball past the onrushing Nafeei for her second of the campaign.
And three minutes into added time substitute Zhao Yujie cut the ball back from the right for Ma to side-foot home to wrap up a 4-0 scoreline.
“We knew it would be hard because China are one of the best teams in Asia and have academies for women’s football,” said Iran coach Shadi Mahini.
“The difference between China and Thailand is immense as China are stronger, have creative players and are very fast on and off the ball.
“They kept possession well, but we did a good job of containing them. But we have to remember our fitness isn’t at their level, so we played to our maximum potential.”
Photo: WSG