Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

AFC - IRAN’S Olympic team booked their place in the final round of qualifying for next year’s games in Athens thanks to a 6-1 demolition of their opponents in Tehran last night (Saturday).

Leading 3-1 from the first leg last month, Iran’s fans who packed the newly-refurbished Azadi stadium must have feared the worst when the visitors took the lead when Alexander Kgineri scored from the penalty spot after 31 minutes to bring the Uzbeks back into the tie.

However, Iran responded and were just four minutes later were level, Iman Mobali’s excellent cross finding Mohammed Nosratti who nodded planted a well placed header beyond the dive of the Uzbekistan keeper.

As half-time approached, it looked like the visitors would go into the break level but a tackle on Javad Kazemian was adjudged to have been illegal and Moharram Navid kia stepped up to score the penalty that sent the home side into the lead.

In the second half, Iran made their superior pace, technique and fitness tell as Navid kia and Mobali dominated midfield.

Two minutes after the re-start and Iran put the tie well and truly out of the visitors’ reach when Arash Borhani added to the two goals he scored in the first leg of this match with a fine individual goal that saw him dance past three Uzbekistan players before coolly finishing.

Hossein Kaabi grabbed the fourth of the game on 58 minutes before Borhani grabbed his second on the night. Hamid Shaffiee completed the rout with four minutes to go.

"When Uzbekistan scored their goal, I was worried because I thought they might score another," said Mohamad Mayelikohan, Iran’s coach, after the end of game. "But when Nosrati and Navid kia scored two in the first half, I was sure we would win.

"I am very happy with the result but not with our performance because if we are going to get to the Olympics, we must play much better than we did today, he added.

Iran won the tie 9-2 on aggregate.

Top