Iran’s Journey to Russia… Guam Sinks Under the Waves [VIDEO]

Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN.  The Guamanians who were hoping for a David & Goliath outcome in their duel against Iran, sank instead under repeated waves of attack from Team Melli that ripped open their defensive fortifications six times.

Team Melli, intent on changing Iranian fortunes after the summer solstice, started the match with a high tempo and took the lead in the 10th minute through a penalty from Ashkan Dejagah, after the Matao goalie was forced to bring down Sardar Azmoun in the box to stop his brilliant run.

Azmoun was involved in Iran’s 2nd goal twenty minutes later, with a layoff pass to Mehdi Taremi who had moved into the box after a brilliant dummy on Ehsan Hajsafi’s pass.  The well rehearsed move was nearly identical to another play between Azmoun and Taremi a few minutes earlier.

And it was Azmoun again with a brace of headers in minutes 34 and 41 that doubled Team Melli’s lead to four goals, connecting to pin-point crosses from Dejagah from the right flank and Vahid Amiri from the left flank – the latter after a cunning back-heel pass from Dejagah.

The Iranians, who started the second half with a high tempo in search of more goals, were visibly tired and less cohesive after the first 5 to 10 minutes, compelling Carlos Queiroz to make three substitutions between minutes 64 and 75.

The first substitute, Ramin Rezaian, set up Mehdi Taremi for Iran’s 5th goal with a fantastic long-range cross from the right flank, only a minute after he had walked onto the pitch in the 64th minute.  And Queiroz’s second and third substitutes, Mehdi Torabi and Omid Alishah connected together for Iran’s 6th goal in the 89th minute.

Despite the result, the Matao fought well and gave a good account of themselves against Asia’s highest ranked team, particularly on a day that saw other Asian teams succumb to double digit losses against lower ranked 3rd round contenders.

Gary White & Co. will likely take away a valuable lesson from this match not to become overconfident or to underestimate their opponents for the remainder of the campaign. Indeed, the Guamanian psyche in the last week leading up to this match, seemed very different from the last time I talked to Jason Cunliffe.

At the time, the Matao captain said “we aren’t naive enough to think one point wouldn’t be a huge accomplishment”.  That was a far cry from the recent vibes from the Guam camp, fans on social media, and Gary White interviews that were all bleaming with overconfidence.

While Team Melli shifts focus to their upcoming march on India for a September 8th clash, and a return home with spoils of war that should include no less than 3 points, the Matao will fly back home for their most important clash of the qualifiers against Oman.

A David & Goliath outcome in that match will most certainly serve both Team Melli and Matao fans better than the Guamanians sinking under the waves once again, in the style of the mythical and overconfident Atlanteans.

Iran – Guam 6-0 (4-0)
World Cup qualifying, Tehran

Goals:
1-0 Ashkan Dejagah (11′ / penalty / foul on Sardar Azmoun)
2-0 Mehdi Taremi (31′ / assist by Sardar Azmoun)
3-0 Sardar Azmoun (34′ / Ashkan Dejagah)
4-0 Sardar Azmoun (42′ / Vahid Amiri)
5-0 Mehdi Taremi (65′ / Ramin Rezaeian)
6-0 Mehdi Torabi (89′ / Omid Alishah)

Iran’s lineup: Beiranvand – Ghafouri (63′ Rezaeian), Montazeri, Hosseini, Hajsafi – Teymourian – Dejagah (75′ Alishah), Ebrahimi, Taremi, Amiri – Azmoun (70′ Torabi)