Iran Stays Perfect at 2019 CAFA U-16 Championship

Iran finished the match with 10 players but gained three crucial points with a 2-1 win in a match which also saw two Uzbekistan players sent off in the dying stages.

In a battle between two regional heavyweights, Iran assumed the early control when Khaled Rohani scored the opening goal in the 10th minute, but Uzbekistan was level just six minutes later thanks a successful penalty kick from captain Murodbek Khujamberdiev and the sides remained locked at 1-1 at the interval.

Iranian substitute Sajad Khaedmi scored what would prove to be the winner in 54th minute, but the match had a tense ending as Iran’s Sobhan Kamiavand and Uzbekistan’s Vazgen Pogsyan were both shown straight red cards and Uzbek forward Rustam Turdimurodov earned a second yellow in a chaotic stoppage time period.

Sunday is a rest day for the six teams in the competition – which serves as a warm-up for this year’s AFC U-16 Championship 2020 Qualifiers – with action resuming on Monday.

The Iranian team, who started the campaign with a 3-1 win over Turkmenistan, will face Afghanistan on Monday.