Kochi: Top teams raise their performance in big games and Spain did just that against Iran in their FIFA U-17 World Cup quarterfinal here on Sunday. The Spanish scored an emphatic 3-1 win and set up a semifnal clash with African challengers Mali.
The crowd of 28,436, by far the biggest attendance in Kochi in the competition, had come expecting a close affair. But it was not to be as Spain proved superior to the Iranians in all departments of the game as World Cup action came to an end in Kochi.
Early domination
Spain were hell-bent on keeping possession in the opening minutes of the game and Team Melli were put under tremendous pressure. Iranian goalkeeper Ali Gholam Zadeh thwarted Spanish captain Abel Ruiz and punched away a dangerous cross in the 10th minute.
But Ruiz gave Spain the lead in the 13th as he calmly slotted home a rebound from close range after Sergio Gomez provided the assist. It was the Barcelona 'B' forward's fourth goal in the competition.
There was no respite for Iran and they hardly saw the ball in the early part of the half. The European champions gave a masterclass of tiki-taka and continued to tease their opponents who had an impressive run coming into the game.
Spanish coach Santi Dania went in with his trusted 4-2-4 combination and the Iranians had a tough time to keep the Spanish in check especially on the left wing.
Iran had a lucky escape in the 34th as Cesar Gelabert's shot was blocked with Gholam Zadeh on the ground after dealing with a cross from the right flank.
Pale shadow
So commanding were the Spaniards in the first period that their goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez was barely called into action. Iran sorely missed striker Younes Delfis who sat out of the game after picking up a yellow card in their 2-1 win over Mexico in the pre-quarterfinals. They were a pale shadow of the team which outclassed Germany 4-0 in the group stage.
Iranian defender Ahmed Jalali came up with a timely block to deny Ferran Torres shortly on resumption of play.
Mohammad Ghaderi made a rare foray into the rival box in the 57th but the Spanish defense was equal to the task.
Gomez produced a moment of magic when he beat Gholam Zadeh with a thunderous left-footed shot on the hour mark to double Spain's lead.
Mohammed Moukhliss gave a perfect pass from the right wing and Torres slid in to make it 3-0 in the 67th.
Substitute Saeid Karimi pulled one back for Iran in the 70th.
Ruiz missed a golden chance soon as he failed to hit the target with the goalkeeper out of position.
Fernandez produced a save to keep out a shot from Mohammad Sardari with seven minutes to go, but the game was done and dusted long back.
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