After wasting a string of chances, Iran finally took the lead through Omid Noorafkan’s 87th-minute penalty, but it wasn’t enough to extend its stay in AFC U-23 Championship, with Uzbekistan advancing on goal difference despite its 2-1 loss to the Korea Republic in Pathum Thani

While Iran claimed a somewhat hollow first win of the competition, China PR’s defeat meant they finished Group C without a point or goal after three matches.

After a draw and a loss in its opening two matches, Iran’s hopes of staying in Thailand beyond Thursday relied on a change of fortunes, but Hamid Estili’s side endured another wasteful first half which ended scoreless despite 14 Iranian shots at goal to China’s three.

Impressive Chinese custodian Chen Wei made a point-blank save from a Jafar Salmani header within three minutes, and it proved to be a sign of things to come as Iran created, then squandered, chance after chance.

Allahyar Sayyadmanesh twice forced Chen into fine reflex saves, and Ali Shojaei narrowly missed the target with a header, before Mehdi Mehdikani ended the first half by failing to find the back of the net from a distance of just three yards in stoppage time, the-afc.com reported.

With the Uzbekistan level with Korea Republic at the interval in Pathum Thani, Iran emerged from the dressing room in need of a significant turnaround on both sides of the country, and Estili looked to boost its attacking stocks with the introduction of Mehdi Ghaedi.

A four-pronged frontline meant Iran continued to threaten, but Team Melli Omid came close to falling behind itself when a thunderous Chen Pu drive rattled the crossbar in the 66th minute.

But most of the chances came in Iran’s attacking third, and they were given a lifeline when they awarded a late penalty, with captain Noorafkan stepping up to stroke them into the lead.

Estili’s side poured forward in search of the all-important second, but Ghaedi headed wide when Chen had left an open net, squandering one of the last opportunities of the game as Iran’s Olympic dream after 44-year was dashed.

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