Qatar draw with Iran to keep knockout stage hopes alive

Qatar kept their knockout stage hopes alive by holding Iran to the first goalless draw of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023 on Monday.
Try as they might, Iran could not breach the Qatari goal due to a stunning performance from goalkeeper Galal Amir Elsharkawy, who kept out a staggering nine shots.
The result means Korea Republic have confirmed their spot in the quarter-finals while Iran only need a draw against the East Asians on Thursday to advance. Qatar must defeat Afghanistan to stand a chance of staying in the competition.
Qatar, who shipped six goals against Korea Republic three days ago, were more solid at the back as - after a scare with just 40 seconds on the clock when Kasra Taheri met Esmaeil Gholizadeh’s cross, but could only direct his header straight at goalkeeper Galal Amir Elsharkawy - they frustrated the Iranians in the first half.
The maroon shirts held their opponents at bay, with their defensive efforts drawing applause from the handful of supporters in the stands.
Iran had put six goals past Afghanistan in their opener but looked out of ideas here, with Taheri blasting a snapshot well over and a couple of long throws from captain Erfan Darvish coming to naught. The closest they came was in the 41st minute when Gholizadeh slalomed into the box from the left, before unleashing a fierce effort that Elsharkawy parried away.
Proceedings continued in the same vein after the interval, with Iran custodian Arsha Shakouri a virtual spectator as his teammates dominated play.
A livewire on the right flank, Gholizadeh’s teasing low cross found no takers before the 17-year-old then sidefooted Nima Andarz’s corner over.
Right-back Andarz, who laid on both of Taheri’s goals in the previous match, should added another assist for his team-mate in the 59th minute when he charged out of defence and beat two men before playing in the latter.
However, Taheri’s strike from the edge of the box was repelled by Elsharkawy, who also fielded weak efforts from Abolfazl Zamani and Reza Ghandi Pour as the half wore on.
Qatar’s man between the sticks simply refused to be beaten despite the waves of white shirts laying siege to his goal with Taheri spurning another good pass from Andarz by firing straight at Elsharkawy in the 83rd minute, before Mohamed Askari did likewise a minute later.Even when Elsharkawy was helpless, centre-back Ali Mohamed Shahabi came to the rescue with a vital intervention to deflect Amirmohammad Razaghinia’s goal-bound shot ran threw the kitchen sink in the nine minutes of added time, but Elsharkawy save the best for last.
First, the Al Duhail stopper made a magnificent save off Askari’s venomous strike, before ensuring a share of the spoils by tipping Andarz’s laser-guided free-kick on to the post in the final seconds.