AFC U20 Asian Cup: Iran Thrashes Yemen 6-0, Jordan Edges DPR Korea 2-1
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Synopsis
On February 16, 2025, Iran showcased an impressive performance against Yemen with a 6-0 victory, while Jordan secured a narrow 2-1 win over DPR Korea in their respective AFC U20 Asian Cup matches held in Shenzhen, China, setting the stage for potential knockout stage qualifications.
Key Takeaways
- Iran dominated Yemen with a 6-0 victory.
- Jordan won 2-1 against DPR Korea.
- Abolfazl Zamani scored twice for Iran.
- Ibrahim Sabra was instrumental in Jordan’s victory.
- Both teams are now in strong positions to advance.
Shenzhen (China), Feb 16 (NationPress) Iran and Jordan both achieved significant wins in their respective AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025 matches on Sunday, making considerable progress toward the knockout stage.
Iran dominated with a resounding 6-0 victory over Yemen in their Group C encounter at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1. From the start, Iran took command. Yemen had some early opportunities, with Mohammed Al Awami shooting wide in the 6th minute and Adel Qasem attempting a looping shot in the 8th, but neither was on target.
Shortly after, Iran took control. In the 26th minute, Abolfazl Zamani capitalized on a loose ball to score the first goal, placing his shot into the top left corner. He followed it up with a second goal in the 34th minute via a header after Yemen failed to clear a cross from Yaghoob Barajeh.
Before halftime, Iran extended their lead. Esmaeil Gholizadeh took advantage of a poor pass from Ahmed Al Hajj to score in the 42nd minute, and an own goal by Yemen’s Mohammed Moqbel just before the break made it 4-0.
In the second half, Iran continued their strong performance, with Ghandipour scoring in the 46th minute from a cross by Abbas Kahrizi. The final blow came in the 72nd minute when Abolfazl Zoleikhaei finished with a diving header from Nima Andarz’s cross. This victory positioned Iran favorably for advancement, contingent on Indonesia not defeating Uzbekistan later that day.
Meanwhile, Jordan secured a tough 2-1 victory over DPR Korea in their Group B match at the Longhua Cultural and Sports Centre Stadium. The game started with DPR Korea applying pressure, but Jordan struck first in the 6th minute. Ibrahim Sabra connected with a flick from Burhan Fakhoury and unleashed a powerful shot past DPR Korea’s goalkeeper Hong Kil Ryong. DPR Korea’s Kim Se Jin had a chance to equalize in the 14th minute but shot wide; captain Choe Kuk also missed a header in the 29th minute that went over the bar.
Jordan had more opportunities to increase their lead, with Sabra nearly scoring a second just before halftime, but his shot was blocked. After the break, both teams struggled with their finishing, but Sabra ultimately sealed the win in the 70th minute by nudging the ball past a defender into an empty net. DPR Korea earned a penalty in the 83rd minute, successfully converted by Ri Jong Dok, but it came too late for the Koreans.
