Team Omid exit Incheon at the group stage

Persianfootball.com – INCHEON, It’s all over for Team Omid as Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan progress to the next round of 2014 Asian Games Football.

Vietnam defeated Kyrgyzstan 1-0 through a 63 minute penalty converted by Vu Minh Tuan at Ansan Wa Stadium today. The result meant Kyrgyzstan would go through to the next round due to a better goal difference than Team Omid. Kyrgystan will play Jordan on September 25 while Vietnam plays UAE the following day.

This early exit is Team Omid’s worst performance in Asian Games. Gold in 2002, Bronze in 2006 and 4th Place in 2010 were surely respectable results. However this downhill performance trend is worrying and there is little hope of seeing Iran participate at the Summer Olympic Games since their last appearance in 1976. With only 2 years remaining until 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro there is a lot of work to be done to make participation possible. After this humiliating performace in Incheon, will Nelo Vingada guide Iran to an Olympic berth after 40 years or will the task be assigned to a new head coach?

The 17th Asian Games is the only major football tournament that all three Persian-speaking nations Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan participated. In comparison to Iran who did not take any overage players to this tournament, both Tajikistan and Afghanistan made use of the 3 allocated spots for overage players.

Tajikistan has been spearheaded by veteran Goalkeeper Alisher Tuychiev, Midfielders Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev and Dilshod Vosiev, their presence in the squad ensured Tajiks achieve the required results to help them progress to the next round, they managed to defeat Singapore and Oman with a loss to Palestine in between and finished second in Group C behind Palestine. Tajikistan will play Iraq on September 26 in the round of 16.

On the other hand, Afghanistan with three losses just like Iran finished bottom of her group despite being powered by veteran defenders Zohib Islam Amiri and Djelaludin Sharityar, as well as Goalkeeper Mansour Faqiryar.

2014 Asian Games – Persian teams’ results

Group H

15 September 2014, Ansan Wa Stadium, Iran vs Vietnam 1:4(0:2). Goal for Iran: Mohsen Mosalman 66′, penalty.
18 September 2014, Incheon Munhak Stadium, Kyrgyzstan vs Iran 1:1(0:0). Goal for Iran: Morteza Pouraliganji 79′.

Group B

15 September 2014, Incheon Munhak Stadium, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1:0(0:0).
18 September 2014, Ansan Wa Stadium, Hong Kong vs Afghanistan 2:1(1:0). Goal for Afghanistan: Zohib Islam Amiri 67′.
22 September 2014, Goyang Stadium, Afghanistan vs Uzbekistan 0:5(0:2).

Group C

14 September 2014, Ansan Wa Stadium, Singapore vs Tajikistan 0:1(0:0). Goal for Tajikistan: Siyovush Asrorov 87′.
17 September 2014, Hwaseong Stadium, Palestine vs Tajikistan 2:1(2:1). Goal for Tajikistan: Siyovush Asrorov 28′.
21 September 2014, Incheon Football Stadium, Tajikistan vs Oman 1:0(0:0). Goal for Tajikistan: Jahongir Ergashev 90+4′.