Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dushanbe: Iraq advanced to the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship after defeating Bahrain 4-1 in their last Group F qualifying match at the Republican Central Stadium on Tuesday.
In the group’s later game, Tajikistan whipped the Maldives 8-0 to go second in the group, with the Bahrainis who finished third, automatically qualified for the tournament proper as the hosts.
Iraq were made to wait for their victory however, and it was well into the second half before they opened their account thanks to Amjed Attwan Kadhim Al Magsoosi’s effort on 56 minutes. Alaa Abbas Abdulnabi duly doubled the advantage some six minutes later.
Ameer Sabah Khudhair stretched Iraq's lead yet again on 77 minutes, with Jasim Mohammed Oglah scoring the fourth and final goal for Abbas Atiyah Zwayyer’s side who finished top of the group with a perfect record of three wins from their three fixtures.
Mohamed Jasim Mohamed Ali Abdulla Marhoon registered a consolation goal for Bahrain.
Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s Khotam Alisheri scored a hat-trick (50’, 68’, 80’) while Panshanbe Ehsoni (25’, 54’) and Nuriddin Hamroqulov (35’,61’) each scored twice during their side's emphatic defeat of the Maldives.
Substitute striker Sunatullo Kholov also got on the score-sheet in the 87th minute for the Salokhidin Gafuriv-led Tajiks.
Ten group winners and five (to be confirmed in due course) best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals.