Iran hits Turkmens at AFC U19 Qualifiers

PTV – TEHRAN, The Iranian national youth football team has blanked Turkmenistan at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers to top the Group C with six points.

Iranian footballers pummeled Turkmenistan 4-0 at Tehran’s Takhti stadium on Friday.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh broke the deadlock for Iran in 25th minute of the match, and Amin Jahan-Kohan doubled the lead on the hour mark.

An own goal by Mekan Saparov gave Iran a three-goal cushion in the 74th minute of the match before Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun made it impossible to make up for Turkmenistan with Iran’s 4, nine minutes to the time.

Iran opened its qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over India on Wednesday.

Iran is now leading the table with six points, followed by India on three points. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have also three points but stand third and fourth respectively on goal difference. Pakistan is at the bottom of the table with no point.

The national squad is scheduled to play Pakistan on Sunday, and will face Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

Iran is hosting the championship’s preliminary matches in Group C.

Twenty-three teams from West Asia and 16 teams from East Asia are divided into seven groups of six and five teams for the qualification for the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship.

West Zone has three groups of six and one of five teams while East has one group of six and two groups of five. Top two teams from each group and third best teams from West and East zones will qualify for the tournament.