Iran downs Papua New Guinea in friendly
(7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...Tasnim – KUALA LUMPUR, Iran national football team thrashed Papua New Guinea 8-1 in a friendly match on Thursday.
The match, which took place in Malaysia, was part of the team’s preparation for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Syria.
Team Melli was originally scheduled to face Thailand but after the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej the match was called off.
Reza Ghoochannejhad scored his first hat-trick for the Cheetahs to rack up 17 national goals while Ramin Rezaian headed in the last goal of the event. Karim Ansarifard scored twice in the event while Dejagah and Taromi were the other scorers of the match.
In the first half, Sosha Makani kept the goal for Iran and in the second half, Mohammadreza Akhbari stood in the goal and conceded the sole goal of Papua New Guinea.
Carlos Queiroz’s men will play Syria in Group A on Tuesday.
Iran tops the group with 10 points.
The top two in each group reach the 2018 finals with the two third-placed sides meeting over two legs for the chance to face a CONCACAF team in a final playoff for a ticket to Russia.
