Aliff Haiqal’s stunning late equaliser saw Malaysia claim a 1-1 draw with Iraq in Group C of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 on Monday.
Iraq dominated the first half at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and took a deserved lead three minutes from half-time through Mohammed Ridha, before Muntadher Mohammed missed from the spot on 57 minutes.
Malaysia had struggled to create chances in the second period but Haiqal’s blistering strike with five minutes remaining made Iraq pay for their missed opportunities as the Southeast Asians gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the last eight.
Iraq had the better of the opening exchanges and came close on 12 minutes when Mohammed was afforded acres of space in the centre of the Malaysia half, shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired narrowly wide from fully 35 yards.
The West Asians threatened the Malaysia goal once more on 26 minutes as Mohammed Dawood got on the end of Ridha’s lob over the top, but the forward was off target with his first-time attempt from inside the penalty area.
Muhammad Nizarruddin’s shot from distance just before the half hour was then parried out by Iraq goalkeeper Ali Ibadi to Alif Safwan, who manoeuvred his way into a shooting position only to direct his tame effort straight at the custodian.
But Iraq assumed control again soon after as Dawood headed Mohammed’s pinpoint cross from the left just inches wide before Ridha did open the scoring three minutes before the interval.
Mohammed was again involved with his deep cross being chested back into the path of Ridha by Ahmed Sartip and the frontman made no mistake by firing low past Firdaus Imran from just inside the box.
The dangerous Mohammed’s downward header shortly after the restart then bounced up and onto the top of the crossbar as Iraq sought to give themselves breathing space.
Chitheer’s side were awarded a penalty just before the hour after Imran upended Ridha following a corner from the right, but Mohammed was unable to net his third spot kick in two games as the Malaysia number one made amends by blocking to his right.
Always at the centre of the action, Mohammed delivered another fine ball, this time from the right, into the box with 18 minutes remaining but the outstretched Dawood and substitute Alaa Adnan failed to get on the end of it.
Iraq again should have put the game to bed with 10 minutes remaining but Adnan’s tame shot was stopped by Imran after he was teed up by Dawood.
And Malaysia then equalised with five minutes left on the clock as Haiqal rocketed his right-footed effort into the top left corner from 20 yards to secure a share of the spoils.
Iraq coach Qahtan Chitheer after the game said“We missed about 10 or 11 chances today. We scored the first goal but then missed a penalty and more chances – this is football. Mistakes happen and some players didn’t play to the best of their ability. We dominated the second half but we gave the Malaysian team the chance to push forward in the end. But we didn’t lose and we will now work hard for the final game against Oman.”
Malaysia coach Somasundram Periasamy after the game said“Our game plan was to defend and to catch them on the counter-attack. I think in the last five or 10 minutes they were more tired and my boys had more chances to get the goal. I want to congratulate my team because it is a very good result.”
