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Long-range screamers, magnificent solo efforts, stunning free-kicks and superb team moves, the sixth edition of one the continent’s premier youth competitions saw goals from all angles and distances to delight lovers of Asian football across the globe.

Ahmed Al Rawi (Qatar)
۵۴th minute
Group A: Qatar v Indonesia
Among the players highlighted before the campaign as one to watch, Ahmed Al Rawi showed just why in Qatar’s opening game against Indonesia. With a free-kick 30 yards from goal, the striker curled a wicked effort with venom and precision into the bottom left corner for his side’s second in a 2-0 win.

Witan Sulaeman (Indonesia)
۴۰th minute
Group A: Jordan v Indonesia
Doubling up in style! Witan Sulaeman made the score 2-0 to Indonesia in their final group stage game against Jordan by putting the finishing touch to a well-worked team move just before half-time. Marselino Ferdinan found Rizky Ridho who cushioned the ball first time into the path of Witan. The forward needed no second touch, instantly unleashing a low curling shot that beat Ahmad Juaidi to find the far corner of the net.

Aiman Yahya (Saudi Arabia)
۴th minute
Group C: Thailand v Saudi Arabia
Beautifully worked with a clinical finish to cap it off, Saudi Arabia’s opener in a 5-0 victory over Thailand was one of the tournament’s great team goals. Mohammed Abu Al Shamat jinked his way past the opposition before slipping the ball to Haitham Asiri, whose low first-time cross from the right was perfectly turned in by Aiman Yahya.

Khuat Van Khang (Vietnam)
۳۹th minute
Group D: Malaysia v Vietnam
Vietnam and free-kicks at the AFC U23 Asian Cup – we’ve heard that one before! In the Southeast Asian derby against Malaysia, one of the Golden Star Warriors’ brightest prospects, Khuat Van Khang, whipped a perfect free-kick into the top right corner with a finish that surely drew comparisons to Nguyen Quang Hai as he opened the scoring in a 2-0 win.

Hassan Khalid (Iraq)
۵۶th minute
Group C: Tajikistan v Iraq
Having lost their opener against Thailand, Iraq needed to rebound against Tajikistan and they did so in style with Hassan Khalid scoring the pick of the goals in a 4-2 win. The Iraqis worked the ball nicely from the left and when it arrived at the feet of Khalid, he took one touch before rocketing into the back of the net from 25 yards with a spectacular strike.

Alibek Davronov (Uzbekistan)
۳۲nd minute
Group D: Kuwait v Uzbekistan
Is there anything more satisfying than a diving header? Uzbekistan defender Alibek Davronov absolutely launched himself into the air to get on the end of Muhammadkodir Hamraliev’s cross and connected emphatically to open the scoring against Kuwait. The Cristiano Ronaldo celebration that followed was an appropriate one – it was indeed a goal the Portugal star would have been proud to score!

Rafael Struick (Indonesia)
۲۳rd minute
Q-Final : Korea Republic v Indonesia
What a moment, what a goal, in a match that will go down in Indonesian football folklore. Facing up against former winners and continental powerhouse Korea Republic, the odds were stacked against debutants Indonesia in the quarter-finals, but this astonishing 25-yard strike from forward Rafael Struick flipped the script and sent the Southeast Asians on their way to an historic victory.

Mao Hosoya (Japan)
۲۸th minute
S-Final : Japan v Iraq
A superb individual goal in the semi-finals from Japan forward Mao Hosoya that was told in three movements. First, the instant control to bring the ball over the top into his stride. Then, the swivel to throw the on-rushing Iraq defender off balance and set himself on goal. And finally, the calm and composed finish rolled into the far corner.