Preview: Iran are expected to face an uphill task as they aim to keep their history-making run going against formidable Spain in a quarter-final clash of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Kochi on Sunday. The only Asian team still left standing in the competition, Iran have won all four of their games so far, averaging three goals per match in the process. On Sunday however, the Asian powerhouse will have to be at their very best in order to keep that record intact. Much like their senior team, the Spanish youngsters have an exciting possession-based game. They had started their campaign with a narrow loss to Brazil in Group D, but have steadily improved since then. The Spaniards are familiar with this venue, having played three of their four games so far in Kochi. They were impressive in their last match, where they beat France playing attractive football. A similar performance on Sunday may land them in the semi-finals. Iran however, have been impressive. They had thrashed much-fancied Germany 4-0 in the group stages and their performance so far has prompted many to brand them as the dark horses of this tournament.
FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 quarter-final, Spain vs Iran, Football Match Result: La Roja beat Iran to book semis spot
Catch all the live score and updates from the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 quarter-final clash between Spain and Iran.
 "FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 quarter-final, Spain vs Iran, Football Match Result: La Roja beat Iran to book semis spot")
¡¡LO VOLVEMOS A REPETIR!! ¡¡¡ESTAMOS EN SEMIFINALES DEL #FIFAU17WC!!! RT si estás tan ORGULLOSO de esta generación como lo estamos nosotros pic.twitter.com/Q3VXcsU1RC
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) October 22, 2017
FT | #FIFAU17WC
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) October 22, 2017
QUARTER-FINAL - KOCHI
🇪🇸Spain 3-1 Iran🇮🇷
European champions cruise into the semis pic.twitter.com/55aabxLc9X
Fulltime. Spain 3-1 Iran
Spain have put in a professional performance tonight to book their spot in the semi-finals of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Goals from Abel Ruiz, Sergio Gomez and Ferran Torres sealed Iran’s fate in spite of their consolation goal through substitute Karimi.
Spain will face Mali in the semi-finals in a mouthwatering battle of the continental champions from Europe and Africa.
That’s it from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium which witnessed it’s final FIFA U-17 World Cup game today, amidst enthusiastic crowd support even in the sapping humidity of Kochi.
90+2` Spain 3-1 Iran
Iran are defending desperately as Spain keep looking for a late goal. Not much went according to plan tonight for the Asian nation, but they will take heart from their overall performance in the World Cup, as the last standing Asian nation is all set to get eliminated.
87` Spain 3-1 Iran
With three minutes plus stoppage time to play, Spain are circulating the ball at their own pace, shutting Iran out of the game. A flurry of corners in Spain’s favour also has pegged Iran back into their own half as the Iranian players look short of ideas to change the course of the game this late in the match.
83` Spain 3-1 Iran
Antonio Blanco’s substitution has allowed Iran to get a foothold into the midfield battle, with Fernandez finally being called into action after Sayyad’s excellent work down the right flank.
76` Spain 3-1 Iran
Another good opportunity spurned by Abel Ruiz. Good work from the substitute Jose Lara who cuts it back to Ruiz from the touchline. With all the time in the world for him to take a touch and pick his pot, Ruiz side foots it wide of goal.
72` Spain 3-1 Iran
That’s an uncharacteristic miss from Abel Ruiz. Gholam Zadeh gets a weak hand on Miranda’s cross. Ruiz, with an empty goal in front of him, can only slice it beyond the post.
69` GOAL! Saeid Karimi scores! Spain 3-1 Iran
Saied Karimi, the substitute gets one back for Iran with twenty minutes to play with literally Iran’s first real chance of the game. As the Iran manager glances towards his watch, Spain will look to avoid any further errors at the back while there is a palpable feeling around the stadium that this game is far from being over.
67` GOAL! Ferran Torres scores! Spain 3-0 Iran
Ferran Torres heaps further misery on the Asian nation as Spain have all but booked their place in the semi-finals. A well-deserved goal for Torres who has been tormenting the Iranian defence all day.
66` Spain 2-0 Iran
Iran have made a double change with the hope of making a comeback into this game, but what will cause Spain more concern at this point is the injury picked up by Sergio Gomez which forced the attacking midfielder off.
64` Spain 2-0 Iran
Spain with their first change of the match and it is the goalscorer Sergio Gomez who goes off. Gome had gone down injured and there seems to be an issue with his knee. He’s stretchered off the pitch but he gets back on his feet after receiving treatment. He is replaced by Alvaro Garcia.
62` Spain 2-0 Iran
Sergio Gomez doubles Spain’s lead and has essentially killed off the game with a stunning shot past a completely stretched Gholam Zadeh. Iran already had a mountain to climb and are looking as good as knocked out at this point.
60` GOAL! Sergio Gomez scores! Spain 2-0 Iran
A beautiful goal that from the Spanish No 10. Gomez gets the ball from the right and after taking a touch, he curls it into the top corner and there’s nothing that the Iranian custodian can do about it.
56` Spain 1-0 Iran
It has been all Spain in the second half as Iran fail to make any dent whatsoever in Spain’s defence, the most recent of their attempt being Ghaderi’s heavy touch on the ball in Spain’s defensive third.
52` Spain 1-0 Iran
10 minutes into the first half and Spain are firmly in control of proceedings here. Ferran Torres has been a nuisance for the Iranian defence tonight and the winger deserves a goal for the shift he has put in today.
46` Spain 1-0 Iran
We are underway in the second half at Kochi and Spain are immediately on the attack, aiming to consolidate their lead. Ferran Torres’ well-placed shot is blocked.
Halftime. Spain 1-0 Iran
An Abel Ruiz goal at the thirteenth minute has given Spain a slender lead to take into the halftime. In spite of some of their delightful passing which on occasion led to goalscoring chances, Spain have not threatened Gholam Zadeh’s goal since the opener.
Iran are playing second fiddle here and need to up the ante in the second half should they wish to contend for a semi-final spot.
44` Spain 1-0 Iran
Spain have played some exquisite first-touch football, especially on the wings, stretching the Iranian defence, which has more or less held firm so far, but it has been the non-existent attacking line of Iran which is hurting their cause.
39` Spain 1-0 Iran
Exquisite passing that from Spain. Abel Ruiz plays a one-two with Sergio Gomez and plays a cross-field pass to Torres on the right. Torres takes a touch and backheels it for a teammate who puts in a low cross for Moukhliss whose first-time shot is blocked by an Iranian defender.
34` Spain 1-0 Iran
The goal notwithstanding, Iran have defended confidently. Gholam Zadeh, spilling a cross from Ferran Torres after Spain’s No 7 unleashed his pace on the left flank, recovered immediately with a superb save to deny Gelabert from increasing the lead for Spain.
33` Spain 1-0 Iran
Cesar Gelabert with a golden opportunity to double Spain’s advantage. Ferran Torres with yet another brilliant piece of work on the right and his cross is spilt by the Iranian keeper and it falls to Gelabert whose attempt is deflected behind for a corner.
28` Spain 1-0 Iran
As the Bolivian referee calls for a cooling break, a Mexican Wave goes around the stadium. The fans in Kochi seem to have taken a liking for Spain who played all of their group matches in the city.
24` Spain 1-0Iran
A little more than halfway into the first half of the final game at Kochi and Iran have pretty much been the spectators, enjoying only 24% possession. It isn’t just one statistic in which Iran are trailing as they are yet to venture into Spain’s penalty area, having attempted zero shots so far.
19` Spain 1-0 Iran
This is completely new territory for Iran as they trail for the first time in five games in this World Cup, but it’s important they don’t concede again as Spain look to be in complete control of the game right now.
13` GOAL! Abel Ruiz scores! Spain 1-0 Iran
Abel Ruiz gets Spain on the scoresheet after some excellent work by Ferran Torres down the right flank. Sergio Gomez’s shot is deflected as is Ruiz’s initial shot, but Spain’s persistence pays off as the famed Iranian defence has been breached.
8` Spain 0-0 Iran
It has been a slow start to the game as Spain have made attempts to breach the Iranian defence with a few crosses from the wing, but without much success. Mostly, Spain have passed the ball around in their own half and the midfield, while Iran comfortably hold their positions.
5` Spain 0-0 Iran
In their match against Germany, Iran were happy to sit back and absorb the German pressure before hitting their opponents n the counter. It looks like they are planning to do the same here with Spain enjoying a whopping 87% possession. Iran get an opportunity to go on the counter but the ball won back quickly by the Spaniards.
3` Spain 0-0 Iran
Spain have enjoyed complete possession of the ball in the early minutes as they knock the ball around. A Sergio Gomez cross finds its way into the Iranian box, but Iran clear comfortably.
Kick off! Spain 0-0 Iran
The national anthems are done and Iran kicks off in what is expected to be a cracking game of football in comfortable conditions at Kochi.
The European champions enter the fray as favourites for this quarter-final clash, but Iran, who have already proved their mettle against a strong German and Mexico sides, will pose a tough challenge.
Iran’s unique style of non-possession football when they defend vehemently and then counter at a break-neck pace has already drawn applause from the Spanish coach Santiago Denia who admitted that “no team makes the transition from attack to defence as smoothly as Iran."
It will be a battle of two contrasting approaches to football as Spain would look to impose their own brand of football and thwart off any surprises Iran may direct their way.
The third quarter-final of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup sees Spain take on Iran at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Spain, the runners-up of Group D defeated France in their last knockout game while Iran saw off Mexico.
Here are the starting lineups.
Spain: Fernandez, Mateu Jaume, Miranda, Guillamon, Chust, Blanco, Torres, Moukhliss, Abel Ruiz, Gomez, Gelabert.
Iran: Gholam Zadeh, Satavi, Jalali, Esmaiel Zadeh, Shariati, Hosseinzadeh, Sharifi, Sayyad, Ghobheishavi, Namdari, Ghaderi.
While Spain have decided to go with the same starting eleven as during their 2-1 win over France, Iran have made three changes, the most significant of which is the inclusion of Vahid Namdari in place of the suspended Younes Delfi.
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