One goal for each denied visa: Iran thrash Guam in World Cup qualifying

Persianfootball.com – HAGNATA, Iran’s national team cruised to another comfortable 6-0 victory over minnows Guam in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

Iran had to do without four key players due to visa rejects: Russia based Alireza Haghighi, Sardar Azmoun and Saeid Ezatollahi as well as German based Ehsan Hajsafi. Besides, also two members of the coaching staff had been denied entry to the country for the World Cup qualifier.

Additionally, Vouria Ghafouri, Jalal Hosseini and Pejman Montazeri were missing due to injuries, whereas Omid Ebrahimi served a yellow card suspension.

With many new faces, Iran nevertheless easily controlled the proceedings and went into halftime with a well deserved 2-0 lead, thanks to Mehdi Taremi and Kamal Kamyabinia’s debut goal.

Taremi had been perfectly sent through on goal by young Mehdi Torabi, while Kamyabinia curled a loose ball into the net from the edge of the area.

Right-back Ramin Rezaeian added a third quickly after the restart, before Taremi was brought down inside the box by the last defender, and following the expulsion of the Guamese, Masoud Shojaei – who had replaced the injured Torabi late in first half – converted from the spot to make it 4-0.

Karim Ansarifard added a fifth shortly afterwards and assisted Taremi’s 6-0, his second of the day, as well.

Final highlight of the game was Iran goalkeeper’s Alireza Beiranvand’s late challenge outside the area, which got him also sent off.

As Iran had performed all three substitutions already, defender Ezatollah Pourghaz had to fill in as goalkeeper for the final 20 minutes, but had no problems keeping a clean sheet.

Besides Beiranvand, also Ashkan Dejagah will miss Iran’s next tie against India in Tehran in March, due to a yellow card suspension.

Iran stay on top of the table, three points and 11 goals ahead of Oman, who have the chance to catch up later today in Turkmensitan.

Guam – Iran 0-6 (0-2)
AFC World Cup qualifying, round 2

Goals:
0-1 Mehdi Taremi (12′)
0-2 Kamal Kamyabinia (32′)
0-3 Ramin Rezaeian (49′)
0-4 Masoud Shojaei (52′ / penalty)
0-5 Karim Ansarifard (53′)
0-6 Mehdi Taremi (63′)

Red cards: J.L. Matkin (51′), Alireza Beiranvand (72′)

Iran: Beiranvand – Rezaeian, Pouraliganji, Pourghaz, M. Mohammadi – Teymourian, Kamyabinia – Dejagah (58′ Jahanbakhsh), Taremi (72′ Heydari), Torabi (43′ Shojaei) – Ansarifard