Iran defeat India in World Cup qualifying [VIDEO]
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Loading...Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN, Iran cruised to a comfortable 4-0 home victory against India in World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying round 2 in Tehran’s Azadi stadium on Thursday.
The win and Oman’s 1-0 victory means Oman need an 8-0 away victory over Team Melli on Tuesday to overtake Iran and occupy the top spot of the group. Only the first placed team certainly qualifies for the Asian Cup and the final stage of World Cup qualifying.
In absence of captain Andranik Teymourian and number one keeper Alireza Haghighi, Carlos Queiroz lined up a young team. Jalal Hosseini was kept on the bench and came on as late substitute to eventually celebrate his 100th cap while also Ashkan Dejagah and Masoud Shojaei didn’t start in favour of younger players.
As expected, Iran dominated the proceedings and took the deserved lead in first half, thanks to a penalty kick by Ehsan Hajsafi, after Alireza Jahanbakhsh was fouled inside the area.
Sardar Azmoun netted Iran’s second after the break, when he, shortly after wasting a great chance, came to the end of a Hajsafi corner which he controlled with his chest and then scored from close range.
Ehsan Hajsafi scored his second and Iran’s third of the day, when, after a handball in India’s box, converted another spotkick.
The fourth and final goal was the highlight of the day, when debutant Dariush Shojaeian sent a great long pass forward to Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who dribbled past his marker on the right wing and scored from tight angle.
Iran – India 4-0 (1-0)
World Cup & Asian Cup qualifier, Azadi stadium
Goals:
1-0 Ehsan Hajsafi (penalty)
2-0 Sardar Azmoun
3-0 Ehsan Hajsafi (penalty)
4-0 Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Iran’s lineup: Mazaheri – Rezaeian, Montazeri (86′ Hosseini), Pouraliganji, Hajsafi – Ebrahimi (71′ Shojaeian), Ezatollahi – Jahanbakhsh, Taremi (70′ Ansarifard), Amiri – Azmoun
