PNG find it tough

PAPUA New Guinea U15 soccer girls began their Youth Olympic Games campaign with a strong performance at the Jalan Besar Soccer Stadium in Singapore and were unfortunate to go down 1-0 to Iran on Sunday.
It was a tough match that saw both teams showing great enthusiasm in the beginning and throughout the game.
The young PNG lasses had a headstart by dominating most of the first half seeing them pile huge amounts of pressure in Iran’s backline, always looking very dangerous in front of the goal, and showing of a great deal of skill which had the Singaporean crowd on their feet.
The PNG girls came close several times but were prevented from breaking the duck due to an excellent performance by the Iranian goalkeeper.
Midfielders Alexier Stephen, Rumona Morris and Geenaidah Willie played key roles into trying to find their strikers and attracting flankers, but were always denied as the Iranians shut them down fast.
In the 43rd minute, an Iranian midfielder played a through-ball down the left which saw their striker Fatemah Ardestani placing the ball into the net.
The game continued at the same exciting pace in the second half.
The Iranians hung on to the slim lead as the PNG girls went all out in search of the equaliser.
The PNG girls threw everything they had in the dying minutes but were unable to beat the Iranian goalkeeper.
The girls now take on Group A leaders Turkey on Thursday.
Turkey defeated Iran 4-2 in their opening pool match.
If PNG go down to Turkey, Iran will join their fellow Middle East counterparts in the next round.