DUSHANBE, September 18, Asia-Plus – Tajik young soccer players, who were debutants in the Asian U17 Football Championship in Singapore, beat Syrian U17 team 8-7 in a thrilling penalty shootout to finish third in the championship at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Sunday, according to information from Tajikistan’s Football Federation.
Full-time ended 2-2 and the deadlock prevailed after extra time despite the addition of one goal each by both sides, leading to the penalty shootout.
Syrian soccer player Mohammad Ghnis missed his penalty on Syria’s third kick and this proved to be the difference between the two sides. The Syrian soccer player ballooned the ball high while Tajikistan converted all five of their penalties to cap a memorable debut in the competition.
Tajik coach Qodirov was delighted with the third-place finish and the manner in which it was achieved by his debutant lads. This achievement proves that Tajikistan’s football is on the way up.
The Asian Under Seventeen Football Championships in Singapore kicked off on September 3 and ended on September 17. The four teams, including Tajikistan, gained entry to the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup to be held in the Republic of Korea.
The following teams took part in the Championship in Singapore: Group A: Japan; Korea Republic; Nepal and Singapore; Group B: Iran; Iraq; Tajikistan and Yemen; Group C: DPR; Myanmar; Korea and Saudi Arabia; and Group D: Bangladesh; Peoples’ Republic of China; Syria and Vietnam.
