2023 FIFA U-17 WC: Iran advance after routine New Caledonia win
Jakarta, Indonesia (PANA) - Iran ensured their progress to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 knockout phase after a routine 5-0 win over New Caledonia in Group C, FIFA.com.
Three teams -- England, Japan and Iran -- had 6 points each and were separated only by goal difference and ended the group in that order. New Caledonia did not win any match, neither did they score a goal.
The Iranians laid siege on the New Caledonia goal from the off but it took them 17 minutes to open the scoring, as Mahan Sadeghi crossed for Amirmohammad Razaghinia to head home.
The midfielder doubled his tally in the 34th minute after reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the area, but only after Esmaeil Gholizadeh had struck the post from the penalty spot.
New Caledonia, to their credit, held firm after the restart and were not breached again until the 76th minute, when Reza Ghandipour found the net with a powerful header.
A fourth goal - which took New Caledonia to a record-breaking 23 goals conceded at the tournament - followed in added time, when Mohammad Askari lashed home. Number five came just two minutes later, as Kasra Taheri slotted beyond Nicolas Kutran after breaking through on goal.
-0- PANA MA/RA 17Nov2023
