Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Iran took top of honours in the first ever edition of the WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) U-23 Championship with a 2-0 win over Syria in Wednesday’s final.
After a goalless first half at the Lekhwiya Stadium, during which the Syrians had a 17th minute effort ruled out for offside, Iran took the lead in the 58th minute when Alireza Naghizadeh broke the deadlock.
The 21-year-old Siah Jameghan midfielder’s goal was all that separated the two sides until Iran extended their lead with ten minutes left to Arsalan Motahhari, who scored three times in Iran’s successful AFC U-23 Championship 2016 qualifying campaign as Mohammad Khakpour’s side finished runners-up in Group C to book their place in next year’s continental finals, which will also be held in Qatar.
During the eagerly anticipated AFC U-23 Championship, which also serves as the qualifiers for the men’s football tournament of that year’s Olympic Games in Rio, Iran and Syria will meet again, with the two inaugural WAFF U-23 Championship finalists coincidentally drawn together in Group A of the continental U-23 tournament.
Photo: AFP