Flawless Iran qualify for Asian U22 championship

PFDC – MALACCA, Iran’s U22 team defeated Tajikistan 2-0 on Sunday, thus also winning the fourth Asian championship qualifier and securing a spot in the tournament finals next year.

Following wins over Kuwait, Qatar and the Maldives, goals by Payam Sadeghian (penalty) and Yaghoub Karimi remained unanswered by Tajikistan.

Alireza Mansourian’s men will play their final group match against Bahrain on Tuesday, who only have very theoretical chances of still catching up second placed Kuwait, who only need a point against Maldives on the same day to follow Iran to the final tournament.

However, Bahrain, as well as Qatar, could still make it to the championship as best third-placed team.