Story by Julian Low/Red Sports.

Temasek Polytechnic, Wednesday, July 1, 2009 - Iran further affirmed their status as title favourites after putting four goals without reply past Thailand in the final Group A game of the Asian Youth Games Football competition.

The victory means that Iran have achieved the maximum 9 points, scoring 10 goals and conceding 3 goals in the process.

Thailand went into the game knowing that nothing but a win was necessary for them to advance to the semi-finals. However, they were outmatched right from the start by the physically stronger and bigger Iranians.

It took only 3 minutes for Iran to find the back of the net. Thai ´keeper Jit-On Pipatong failed to collect the ball from a corner kick, prompting a goalmouth scramble. Armin Sohrabian was quickest to the ball and tucked it into goal from close range.

As Thailand committed more bodies into attack to find the equaliser, it was inevitable that they would fall prey to an Iran counter-attack.

After receiving a neat cross from winger Mohsen Gheibi, Saeid Aghael Nojehdeh should have scored his team’s second goal after he found himself one-on-one with Jit-On. However, his clever lob hit the crossbar.

Sivash Haghnazari later doubled his side's lead, no thanks to a lapse in concentration from the Thai midfield. Iran captain Bahman Jahantigh fed a defence-splitting ball to Sivash, who placed the ball into the left corner in clinical fashion with just the keeper to beat.

The Thais could have pulled one back just before half-time. Tanomnaew Komsan did exceptionally well to hold off his markers in the box before turning to shoot, but his shot just went narrowly wide off the post.

It was more of the same in the second half as the Iranians continued to dominate possession in midfield. They could have scored more, if not for inspired goalkeeping from Jit-On Pipatong.

He was on hand to produce a point-blank save when substitute Arash Esmaeli shot straight at him following a Saeid Aghael cross. And minutes later, he drew applause from the crowd when he came up with a fingertip save to deny a Sivash curler and the Iranian striker's second goal of the game.

But Jit-On's heroics were not to be repeated when Arash Esmaeli latched onto a through pass and placed the ball into the goal beyond Jit-On's reach.

Saeid Aghael Nojehdeh then completed the rout with a brilliant shot from outside the left edge of the penalty box. The winger thoroughly deserved his goal, having made dangerous runs and crosses throughout the match.

Iran coach Mohammad Yavan was pleased with his team's performance. When asked which team (Saudi Arabia or South Korea) he preferred to face in the semi-final, he said: “It is not important which team we face as long we continue to play our game. The three-day rest we have will help us prepare better for the semi-final”.

Thai coach Kongsri Pichai was frank in his team performance. He said: “The players couldn't control the ball properly today. We have to improve a lot of things, like our skills and how to play with more confidence.”

Thai captain Charoenruen Insiri, who had a quiet game, said: “We were all tired after playing game after game since Saturday. I think that was what went wrong today.”

Before leaving, he had nothing but good words to say about his stay in Singapore.

"It has been a good experience. The hotel is fine and the food is good!"