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[caption id="attachment_22960" align="alignnone" width="580"] Action from AFC U-16 Championship as10-man India goes down to formidable Iran. Image Source: AIFF[/caption] Margao: A 10-man India lost 0-3 to a superior Iran to bow out of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday.The hosts finished on one point from three outings while Iran topped Group A with 7 points from three matches to march into the quarterfinals. Iran controlled the opening 45 minutes at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and took a one-goal advantage into the interval after Mohammad Ghaderi struck midway through the half, before India’s Boris Thangjam was dismissed 11 minutes after the restart. Captain Sharifi then scored from the spot with 10 minutes remaining and once more at the death as Iran progressed to the last eight on top of the group by virtue of goal difference ahead of United Arab Emirates, who ran out 3-1 winners over Saudi Arabia in Wednesday’s other Group A clash. The hosts left Aman Chetri and Aniket Jadhav, goalscorers in the 3-3 draw with Saudi Arabia on Saturday, on the bench while Iran gave first starts of the tournament to goalkeeper Ali Gholam Zadeh, defender Ahmad Jalali and midfielder Reza Mousavian. Iran shaded the opening stages and had the first chance of note on nine minutes when defender Taha Shariati was just inches away from connecting with Ghaderi’s dangerous inswinging cross from the left. And Abbas Chamanian’s side then broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute as the lively Ghaderi latched on to Allahyar Sayyad’s inch-perfect through ball and powered the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards. The young Blue Tigers had goalkeeper Dheeraj Moirangthem to thank for keeping Iran at arm’s length on 33 minutes as the custodian first pulled off a fine reactionary save to parry out Ghaderi’s goal-bound effort and then was up quickly to deny Amir Khodamoradi on the rebound. With India needing a win to have any chance of reaching the next stage coach Nicolai Adam introduced Jadhav at the interval but their task was made all the harder when Thangjam was sent off for a second bookable offence on 56 minutes after he fouled Ghaderi on the right side. Never far from the action, Ghaderi could have put the tie beyond India but shot straight at Moirangthem after running on to Khodamoradi’s perfectly weighted pass. Chetri was then thrown on midway through the half as Adam went for broke, but it was Iran who looked the more likely to add to their tally. With 15 minutes to play Mohammad Ghobeishavi found Sayyad down the right and his cross-cum-shot across goal was almost met by the outstretched Alireza Asadabadi at the back post. Iran then did put the game beyond their opponents in the 80th minute when Ghaderi was upended in the India penalty area and Sharifi confidently dispatched the ensuing spot kick. Sharifi then added a second penalty in injury time after Sayyad was brought down as Iran secured top spot in Group A in a thrilling finale. Indian coach Nicolai Adam later said,“First, I have to say a big thank you to the spectators. There were more than five thousand and even in Europe that doesn’t happen. I’m sorry we couldn’t make it. The scoreline sounds very clear but in my opinion the result was not that clear. I kept Chetri and Jadhav on the bench because my plan was the longer it was 0-0 the better, and I would have more options in the second half. Overall the tournament was a great experience for the boys but there is a huge task ahead of the [U-17] World Cup next year. The atmosphere in the changing room is not great but I told them I don’t want any tears.” In another match United Arab Emirates got the better of Saudi Arabia 3-1 India: Dheeraj Singh; Sanjeev Stalin, Sarif Khan (Narender – 69^th), Jitendra Singh, Mohamad Rakip (Aniket Jhadav – 46^th); Boris Singh (given marching orders in 55^th minute), Suresh Singh (Captain), Amarjit Singh, Lalengmawia (Aman Chetri – 65^th), Ninthoi, Komal Thattal.