Group E game between Canada and Iran ends in stalemate

Canada 1

Hamilton 48’

Iran 1

Karimi 9’

Man of the match

Marco Carducci (Canada)

DUBAI // There is all to play for in Group E of the Fifa Under 17 World Cup as Canada and Iran contributed to a third draw in the pool’s three matches at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai yesterday.

A share of the points was perhaps the correct outcome of a tight encounter, with the Iranians enjoying the better of the first half before their opponents came back into the game after the break. However, only expert goalkeeping over the final minutes from Marco Carducci ensured that Canada emerged with a draw.

The Iranians, considered by some to be the strongest team in a group that contains Argentina and Austria, struck first through Amirhossein Karimi on nine minutes.

The diminutive No 10 may not look like he packs a punch, but when he found space outside the Canada penalty area, he unleashed a powerful, long-range drive that flew past Caducci.

Canada, yet to win a match at the tournament in 14 attempts, found themselves back on level terms just after half time, when Jordan Hamilton lifted a shot high into the net.

Both teams threatened to secure all three points as the match soon became stretched, with Henson Boakai, the impressive Canadian playmaker, firing over when through on goal before Iran twice struck the post on shots by Amir Mazloum and Majid Hosseini.

Carducci’s late heroics guaranteed Group E remains very much alive.

jmcauley@thenational.ae