AFC Youth Championship 2006: Khshen fires brace as Iraq defeat Vietnam

Ala”a Khshen scored two goals as Iraq defeated Vietnam 3-1 in the AFC Youth Championship here at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.

The win, scripted by goals from Muhamad Usama (11) and Khshen (36, 81), moved Iraq into pole position for a quarterfinal berth from Group D with four points, ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference. Vietnam are third with three points while Malaysia have not yet opened their account. Vietnam pulled a goal back through Khai Nguyen Van in the 75th minute.

Iraq did not do too badly in the last match against Saudi Arabia despite their coach Abdullah Abdul Hamid”s oft-repeated claims of poor preparations, managing a 2-2 draw, thanks to Mohamed Halkard”s last-gasp winner. This, however, did not prevent the coach from making major changes to his team and he gave a start to Hameed Aqeel, Rafid Mohamed and Mohamed Mansour.

Vietnam”s aim was to build on their win from the previous game against archrivals Malaysia and take a step towards the quarterfinals and coach Long Le Tuan made just one change to the winning side.

Iraq lost little time in announcing their intentions when Halkard”s defence-splitter in the third minute put Khshen in the clear on the left but the pass was too strong.

Iraqi defender Amar Abdal Naba tried a flashy backpass in his own area which was thick with Vietnamese red shirts in the 10th minute and almost paid the price when Luong Pham Thanh took the ball into his possession and teed it up for a scorcher which went wide.

Given Iraq”s silky passing and work-rate it was clear that Abdul Hamid”s proteges would not be denied for long. The inevitable goal arrived in the 11th minute and Halkard was involved with his well-weighted cross into the area which Usama fired into the net.

Two minutes later Vietnam suffered another scare when Aqeel unleashed a powerful rocket from 40 yards out straight at goalkeeper Bin Than Nguyen.

Iraq mustered up the response in the 25th minute when Ala”a lobbed from outside the box, forcing Bin Nguyen into an uncomfortable collection. Five minutes later action shifted to the other end of the pitch where Khanh Nguyen Van found space on the left and crashed a powerful shot just wide of the left upright.

Six minutes past the half hour mark, Iraq increased the lead when Halkard sprinted along the edge of the area to cleverly relay the ball to a well-positioned Khshen who had no trouble in slotting it home with his right foot.

As the first half approached, Luong Pham Thanh sent Iraqi pulses racing with his brilliantly flighted cross from the left channel which landed on the top netting even as goalkeeper Alla”a Jias was bracing himself for a mighty leap to pouch the ball.

The game lost its tempo in the second half as Iraq preferred to defend their comfortable lead. Two chances however did materialise on quick counters for the West Asians. In the 55th minute, Khshen darted into the box and got hold of a long ball but failed to find the net while two minutes later Mohamed Mohdie”s header from a cross by Mohamed Khaldoon went close.

Vietnam continued to work hard in search of the equaliser and a rash tackle on Khai Nguyen Van in the 74th minute by Mohdie just inside the 18-yard box on the right saw referee Abdulhameed Ebrahim of Bahrain flash the yellow card and point to the spot. Khai himself stepped up and pulled one back after sending Jias the wrong way.

The goal pumped up the Vietnamese but a silly mistake ensured that the doors were shut on Le Tuan”s youngsters. Quong Vo Huang was caught with the ball in his own box by the opportunistic Khshen for the easiest of goals in the 81st minute and this took the fight out of the South East Asians and the striker”s tournament goal tally to three.

AFC