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Team Melli squad announced.

Team Melli will play Hong Kong on June 6th and four days later, will host Uzbekistan in the final match of the preliminary stage of the World Cup 2026. The matches are insignificant to Team Melli as both Iran and Uzbekistan have qualified for the next stage. The match against the Uzbek will decide who tops the group.

Iran is in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers along with Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, and Turkmenistan. The names of the players invited to the squad for the two last matches of the group were announced by head coach Amir Ghalenoei as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Alireza Beiranvand, Payam Niazmand, Hossein Pourhamidi

Defenders:

Shoja Khalilzadeh, Hossein Kanaanizadegan, Amin Hizbavi, Aref Gholami, Saleh Hardani, Milad Mohammadi, Abolfazl Jalali, Arya Yousefi

Midfielders:

Omid Nourafkan, Saman Ghoddos, Mohammad Ghorbani, Saeed Mehri, Allhayar Sayyadmanesh, Mehdi Limuchi, Mehdi Torabi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Forwards:

Mehdi Taremi, Javad Aghaeipour, Sardar Azmoun, Javad Hossein-Nejad , Shariyar Moghanlou, Mehdi Ghaeydi and Mohammad Reza Azadi.

FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024 Draw

Draw throws up engrossing groupsShare

The six groups for Uzbekistan 2024 were set at the official draw in Samarkand’s resplendent Registan Square.

Group A: Uzbekistan, Netherlands, Paraguay, Costa Rica
Group B: Brazil, Cuba, Croatia, Thailand
Group C: Argentina, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Angola
Group D: Spain, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Libya
Group E: Portugal, Panama, Tajikistan, Morocco
Group F: Iran, Venezuela, Guatemala, France

Hosts Uzbekistan, Netherlands, Paraguay, and Costa Rica will compete in one of the widest-open groups in FIFA Futsal World Cup™ history, while three reigning continental champions – Portugal, Panama and Morocco – will join Tajikistan in the first round. Title contenders Spain and Kazakhstan will collide in Group D. They have first-timers New Zealand and Libya for company. Record five-time champions Brazil went into a pool with Cuba, Croatia, and fast-emerging Thailand. Afghanistan, who will appear in a FIFA competition for the first time since 1948, will face 2016 champions Argentina, Ukraine, and Angola. Samarkand’s resplendent Registan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the ancient Silk Road, provided one of the most spectacular settings ever for the draw of a FIFA tournament. It was conducted by FIFA Director of Tournaments Jaime Yarza, with Uzbek football legend Server Djeparov, former Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha and Kike, who inspired Spain to back-to-back FIFA Futsal World Cup crowns, providing assistance.

Brazil and Spain conquered the first seven editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup between them, five and two times apiece. Thereafter, Argentina and Portugal have etched their names on the trophy. Several emerging powers are threatening to do the same at this year’s finals, which begin on 14 September. Afghanistan, France, New Zealand, and Tajikistan will be making their tournament debuts, while Croatia and the Netherlands return for the first time in almost a quarter-century.

FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking

1st – Brazil 2nd – Portugal 3rd – Spain 4th – IR Iran 5th – Argentina 6th – Morocco 8th – Kazakhstan 9th – Thailand 10th – France 11th – Uzbekistan 12th – Ukraine 13th – Paraguay 16th – Croatia 19th – New Zealand 21st – Venezuela 30th – Afghanistan 31st – Costa Rica 34th – Tajikistan 36th – Netherlands 40th – Guatemala 44th – Panama 47th – Angola 50th – Libya 78th – Cuba

Pierre Carlo: The Polish Goalkeeper Who Found a Home in Iran

Among the names of Iran’s Team Melli players, one stands out for fans: Pierre Carlo, also known as Carlos. His story is a fascinating blend of football, migration, and national identity.

A Journey from Poland to Iran

Pierre Carlo was a Polish immigrant who arrived in Iran during World War II. The tumultuous events of that era forced him to seek refuge far from his native Poland. German forces invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, leading to the defeat of the Polish Army. As a result, millions of Poles found themselves under Soviet authority due to territorial changes dictated by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

In 1941, during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, the Soviets agreed to evacuate part of the Polish formation to Iran. Among these non-military refugees was Pierre Carlo, who crossed the Caspian Sea to find safety in Iran.

Settling in Iran

Despite the challenges, Iranians welcomed Polish refugees openly. The Iranian government facilitated their entry and provided provisions. Polish schools, cultural organizations, and businesses were established to create a sense of home for the displaced Poles. Carlo settled in the port city of Pahlevi (now Anzali), which became a major landing point for Polish refugees arriving from the Soviet Union.

From Refuge to Football Stardom

Carlo’s journey took an unexpected turn when he found his way to the famous Tehran club “Docharkhe Savaran” (later known as Taj, currently Esteghlal). On April 6, 1945, he signed an agreement to play for the club, initially as a temporary arrangement. However, Carlo’s brilliance as a goalkeeper soon made him a key player for Taj.

His impact extended beyond club football. In 1947, Carlo changed his nationality and played for Iran’s national team. He became the first foreign player with two distinct stints in Iranian football. His goalkeeping skills earned him honors, including winning the Tehran Club Cup in 1947, 1949, and 1956, as well as the Tehran National Cup in 1351.

Team Melli Appearances

Carlo made two appearances for Iran’s Team Melli, both against Turkey in October 1947. Turkey, a formidable European team, defeated Iran 3-1 in the first match, while the second ended in a 1-1 draw. Unfortunately, the match was abandoned due to excessive rough play and violence by both teams’ players.

Legacy and Final Resting Place

Hossein Sedghiani, a talent scout credited with discovering great players, and Ali Danaei Fard, the first head coach of the former cyclists’ club, had unwavering faith in Carlo’s goalkeeping abilities. After retiring from football and even pursuing an acting career, Pierre Carlo remained in Iran. He passed away in the country and was buried there, alongside many other Polish immigrants. The same land that once offered him refuge became his final resting place.

Pierre Carlo’s story serves as a testament to the power of football to transcend borders and create lasting connections. His legacy lives on as a unique chapter in the rich tapestry of Iranian football history.

FIFA First ever Futsal Ranking

  • Futsal nations around the world ranked globally for the first time
  • Brazil tops both men’s and women’s charts; Portugal and Spain complete top three
  • Rankings will be key reference point for world futsal

FIFA has launched the official FIFA Futsal World Ranking, with powerhouses Brazil the first number-one nation on both the men’s and women’s chart as the rapidly growing sport takes another major step forward.

Iran’s Futsal Team Melli, recently crowned as AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024 is ranked 4 in the list which will be regularly published, but unlike the FIFA Football Ranking, this will not be monthly!

Although the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking for football has existed since December 1992, and women’s senior national teams have been officially ranked by FIFA since 2003, that has not previously been the case for futsal. However, the indoor game has enjoyed exponential growth in recent years and this milestone moment represents the natural next step, as well as being the first time that FIFA men’s and women’s rankings have been launched concurrently.

Broadcasts of the FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in Lithuania in 2021 attracted an average of 2.42 million viewers per match, a massive 130 percent increase from the previous edition in 2016. The FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™, which will be the first FIFA tournament staged in Central Asia, is likely to improve even on those impressive numbers, and a historic first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ will be held in 2025. Against this backdrop, FIFA has rolled out global rankings for its member associations’ women’s and men’s senior futsal national teams in recognition of the dynamic development of and global interest in the sport.

The initial rankings have been based on statistics gathered from over 4,600 FIFA ‘A’ matches. FIFA defines an international ‘A’ match as a match between two FIFA members for which both members field their first representative team (‘A’ team).

The new ranking system will also serve to seed teams for all upcoming editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup – including during the recently announced draw for the 2024 competition in Uzbekistan. The system will likewise be used for qualification processes and enable comprehensive and consistent data to be gathered to monitor member associations in accordance with the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches. That will support the prevention of practices that jeopardize the integrity of the sport, such as match manipulation.

In the nine editions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup to date, the inaugural top-ranked men’s side, Brazil, have been crowned champions five times and only failed to finish on the podium once. They are closely followed on the chart by Portugal, who arrive at this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup as the holders and have won the last two European crowns. Spain, the two-time world (2000 and 2004) and seven-time European champions, are third in the standings.

Brazil’s women’s national team have been just as dominant as their male counterparts, having won all seven of the South American championships that they have contested. Spain and Portugal are again behind them on the women’s ranking, albeit in reverse order: three-time European champions Spain are second, with Portugal – who have finished runners-up to their Iberian rivals in two continental finals – in third.

Fans interested in attending the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ can register to receive ticketing updates here.

Sardar Azmoun’s Future: Roma and Bayer Leverkusen Clash

Sardar Azmoun, Team Melli striker, made a significant move at the beginning of the season by leaving Bayer Leverkusen on a one-season loan contract to continue his football journey in Italy’s Serie A.

Roma secured a one-season contract with Sardar Azmoun, but the situation is far from settled. The Iranian player’s fate hinges on whether the permanent purchase clause will be activated by Roma. If not, he will return to Bayer Leverkusen. Recent meetings between the clubs’ managers have shed light on the financial aspects of this transfer. However, due to Bayer Leverkusen’s high asking price (12.5 million euros) for Azmoun’s departure, Roma’s leadership hesitates to commit to a permanent deal. According to the Italian website “ilromanista,” Sardar Azmoun is likely to part ways with Roma at the end of the season.

Europa League Showdown

The drama continues on the field as Roma and Bayer Leverkusen prepare for the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals. The match is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 9th, at the Bay Arena. In the first leg, held at the “Olympic” Stadium, Bayer Leverkusen secured a convincing 2-0 victory over their hosts.

Roma’s Challenges and Ambitions

Despite the setback in the first leg, Roma remains determined. Manager Daniele Del Rossi’s focus is unwavering as the team aims to overturn the result in Germany. Remy, one of Roma’s key players, regrets missed opportunities from the previous match against Bayer Leverkusen.

As the season unfolds, Roma faces uncertainties regarding their European Champions League qualification. Their performance in Serie A will ultimately determine their fate. Will they secure a spot in the prestigious tournament, or will they face disappointment? Only time will reveal the answer.

As far as Azmoun is concerned, it seems much better for him to return to Germany as a title holder of the Bundesliga while assured of playing in the UEFA Champions League. While his sterling performances at Zenit St. Petersburg and prolific scoring were not repeated with Leverkusen, he was still considered a main player until his long-term layoff due to injury losing his starting place and eventual loan to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Futsal Team Melli powers to 13th title

SUN, 28 APRIL, 2024

Bangkok: I Iran waltzed their way to a record-extending 13th title with a 4-1 win over Thailand in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024 final on Sunday. 

Iran seized control from the start at the Bangkok Arena to deny Thailand a maiden title as the Central Asian side made up for losing to Japan in the decider of the 2022 edition.

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Iran head coach Vahid Shamsaei was glad his side had redeemed themselves from losing the 2022 final.

“I remember the day I lost the 2022 final against Japan. I had to apologize to everyone, especially to the Iranian fans. Today, I’m happy that they stayed patient with me and I want to dedicate this trophy to everyone back home, especially my late father, who did not see me win the trophy as a head coach,” said Shamsaei.

Thailand head coach Miguel Rodrigo felt his side could have done better.

“I’m very sad for the Thailand fans, they truly deserve another game. We played with our hearts and I will never forget this day, that we played in the final at Bangkok Arena. I’m very disappointed but at the same time, we lost to a superior team,” said Rodrigo.

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Iran got off to a fine start, taking the lead in the first minute off a set-piece situation when Salar Aghapour teed-up Mahdi Karimi, who finished into the bottom corner of the net from the top of the arc.

Thailand, despite being urged on by the partisan crowd, struggled to break through, with Krit Aransanyalak finding his advances on the right flank consistently halted by Iran’s solid defending.

Thailand keeper Arut Senbat was kept on his toes, having to block Karimi’s forced drive from the left flank, before seeing Alireza Rafiei Pour pull his effort wide from inside the box.

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The hosts had their first look on goal in the fourth minute when Alongkorn Janphon lost his marker at the centre before playing the ball square to the advancing Therdsak Charoenphong, who fired his effort over the bar.

A lapse in concentration saw Thailand concede again in the fifth minute when Mohammadreza Sangsefidi played the ball on for the overlapping Moslem Oladghobad on the right flank, who supplied a pinpoint cross for Saeid Ahmad Abbasi to score his eighth goal of the tournament. 

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Thailand refused to concede defeat, with Suphawut Thueanklang seeing his set-piece effort saved by Iran keeper Bagher Mohammadi, who then did well to force Panut Kittipanuwong’s shot wide in a one on one situation.

The onus was on Thailand to find their way back and they did so in spectacular fashion in the 25th minute when Jirawat Sornwichian exchanged passes with Muhammad Osamanmusa before darting through centre and chipping the ball over Mohammadi.

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A relentless Iran responded two minutes later off a set-piece situation when Sangsefidi lofted the perfect cross to an unmarked Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh to volley home to regain their two-goal advantage.

Thailand, desperate to reduce the deficit in the second half, opted for the power play, but the move proved costly in the 34th minute as Mohammadi gained possession in his area before lofting the ball over to score Iran’s fourth to confirm his nation’s 13th AFC Futsal Asian Cup title. 

.Futsal Team Melli to the final match

Bangkok: Goalkeeper Bagher Mohammadi was the star a Iran defeated Uzbekistan 5-4 on penalties after their AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand™ 2024 semi-final ended 3-3 after extra-time on Friday.

Mohammadi saved two spot-kicks as Iran advanced to Sunday’s final against hosts Thailand, with the Central Asian side seeking a record-extending 13th AFC Futsal Asian Cup title. 

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Iran earned a free-kick in a dangerous position just seconds into the tie but Uzbekistan were quick to snuff out the attempt, with Ikhtiyor Ropiev playing the ball on for the overlapping Khusniddin Nishonov, who dragged his effort just inches off the right post.

It was a tense opening minutes with neither side giving an inch of space with Iran’s Salar Aghapour seeing his effort from a distance saved by Uzbekistan keeper Abbos Elmurodov, while at the other end Aghapour needed to step in to foil Ilkhomjon Khamroev’s challenge.

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Iran, however, struck in the third minute when Aghapour weaved his way down the left flank before unleashing his shot which took a deflection off Uzbekistan’s Mashrab Adilov before settling in the back of the net.

Uzbekistan, however, fought back and drew level in the ninth minute with Sunatulla Juraev’s free-kick from distance beating a diving Bagher Mohammadi.

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It was end to end action with Iran keeping Elmurodov busy with an array of shots from Saeid Ahmad Abbasi, while Mohammadi was also tested when he had to keep out Khamroev’s effort.

It was Uzbekistan who scored next, Abror Akhmetzyanov initially deflecting Mohammadhossein Derakhshani’s pass, with Khamroev then laying the ball for Nishonov to set up Akhmetzyanov for a simple tap-in.

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Iran turned up the tempo in the second half and drew level in the 24th minute when the unfortunate Akhmetzyanov turned in Moslem Oladghobad’s free-kick from the left flank.

Uzbekistan suffered another blow in the 27th minute when Adilov received his marching orders after picking up his second yellow card leaving the door open for Iran, who retook the lead two minutes later.

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Aghapour sent a delightful cross to an unmarked Behrooz Azimihematabadi, who had the simplest of touches to put the ball into the back of the net from close range leaving Elmurodov stunned.

Iran, however, suffered a lapse in concentration in the 35th minute when Juraev dispossessed Mahdi Karimi on the right flank before supplying the cross for Akhmetzyanov to slot home the equaliser in an unattended goal.

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Abbasi came close to scoring in the closing stages of the first period when his angled overhead kick sailed above the bar, while Ropiev forced a fine fingertip save from Mohammadi with the Iranian custodian saved Nishonov’s effort from distance.

Mohammadi then saved the first and sixth Uzbekistan spot-kicks as Iran moved within a match of yet another AFC Futsal Asian Cup title. 

Iran Uzbekistan- Futsal Semi-Final

Preview - Semi-final: Uzbekistan v IR Iran

Bangkok: Uzbekistan will encounter their toughest challenge yet when they go head-to-head with Iran in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand™ 2024 at the Bangkok Arena on Friday.

Both sides are in great form, having won their previous four matches en route to the semi-finals with Uzbekistan showing nerves of steel to defeat Vietnam in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, thanks to Sunatulla Juraev’s last-gasp goal. 

Head coach Jose Venancio Lopez knows it will be even tougher against 12-time champions Iran. 

“Facing Iran is a different proposition altogether. They are undeniably one of the best teams in the world and are rightfully considered favorites,” said Lopez.

#ACFutsal2024 | Quarter-final : Uzbekistan 2 - 1 Vietnam

“It’s difficult to figure out how to beat Iran. We’re aware of their high-quality play. However, in one game, anything is possible, and we’ll strive to do everything within our power to achieve our target.”

Iran, on the other hand, have been cruising through the tournament and booked their semi-final spot with a 6-1 win over Kyrgyz Republic but head coach Vahid Shamsaee wants his team to remain focused.  

“We know it’s going to be a tough match, both physically and tactically, and we’re determined to show the best performance we can,” said Shamsaee.

#ACFutsal2024 | Quarter-final : IR Iran 6 - 1 Kyrgyz Republic

“The past is the past. We had friendly games with Uzbekistan before this tournament, but there’s a significant difference between the Uzbek team and my team. Each team possesses unique conditions and physical attributes. Right now, our focus is solely on the next game, and we aim to maintain our concentration.

“With each game, we’re improving. We had two targets, and yesterday, we achieved one by qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024. After our quarter-final game, all my players understood their roles. They know what they need to do tomorrow: to fight until the end without stress and with the hope of delivering a good performance.”

Uzbekistan  v Iran  
Venue: Bangkok Arena (Bangkok)
Kick-off: 17:00 (UTC+3) – Iran Time: 17:30 (UTC+3:30)  

Tajikistan makes history in Futsal.

Bangkok: Fayzali Sardorov’s extra-time winner saw Tajikistan edge out Afghanistan 2-1 in Wednesday’s AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024 quarter-final to secure a place in the semi-finals for the first time and qualification for a maiden FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, will need to wait for the outcome of the day’s last quarter-final tie between Uzbekistan and Vietnam to learn whether their campaign has concluded, or they will return to action in Friday’s play-off semi-finals.

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Tajikistan head coach Pairav Vakhidov was proud of his players for creating history. 

“It was a very tough match, and the players were under pressure to get the result. We told the players to show their game and not to panic and, fortunately, luck was on our side,” said Vakhidov.

“Two years ago, at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022 we reached the quarter-finals but we lost, this time we won and qualified for our first-ever FIFA Futsal World Cup. It’s an unbelievable emotion what I’m feeling right now, I can’t even put it into words.”

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Afghanistan tactician Majid Mortezaei applauded his players for matching Tajikistan in the pulsating encounter.

“Both teams played very well, and I want to say thank you to all my players, they played very well,” said Mortezaei.

“We have played with Tajikistan many times before, so we knew what to expect. The game was very difficult for us, and I would say the difference was their defence was very good.  Even after they had a player sent off, they kept us out and their goalkeeper played fantastic and made some great saves right at the end.”

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Tajikistan made a strong start and Reza Jafari was called into action early by Nekruz Alimakhmadov, before Dilshod Salomov drew an even better save from the Afghanistan custodian on eight minutes.

Salomov forced Jafari into another smart save on 16 minutes, but Afghanistan were stung into action and began to turn the tide as captain Akbar Kazemi hit the post after Firuz Bekmurodov was unable to hold Mehran Gholami’s initial effort.

But it was Tajikistan who opened the scoring against the run of play as Komron Aliev’s run down the left resulted in a cross that was turned into his own net by Reza Hossein Poor two minutes before the break.

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The scores were level just three mins after the restart, though, as Farzad Mahmoodi ran onto a lay-off from Kazemi and drilled his low shot past Bekmurodov.

Afghanistan were then close to taking the lead themselves on the 26th minute when a long ball up court found Kazemi’s head only to see the ball crash against the post.

With under four minutes left on the clock there was more drama to come as Tajikistan went down to four men following Idris Yorov’s second yellow card of the match.

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But even with a man advantage for the two minute-penalty period, no further goals were forthcoming, and the tie went to extra-time.

After a goalless first period, Tajikistan’s moment of history came in the second minute of the second period after a nerveless 10-metre penalty from Sardorov etched his name into his country’s record books.

Futsal Team Melli turn on the power

Iran booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand™ 2024 after defeating the Kyrgyz Republic 6-1 in their last-eight tie at the Bangkok Arena on Wednesday.

The win meant the 12-time champions also punched their ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024, with a meeting against Uzbekistan or Vietnam in Friday’s semi-finals.

Kyrgyz Republic, meanwhile, will need to wait for the outcome of the day’s last quarter-final between Uzbekistan and Vietnam to learn whether their campaign has concluded, or they will return to action in Friday’s playoffs.

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Iran head coach Vahid Shamsaei said his players found the opening minutes difficult as they were not used to the court conditions.

“We had to acclimatize to the conditions of the court surface as we did not play in this arena in the group stage. However, the players knew what they had to do and we had the perfect second half,” said Shamsaei.

“I’m proud of my players as we also qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan later this year. Even though Japan are not here in this competition, the quality of the other teams has improved.”

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Kyrgyz Republic head coach Luis Molina was proud of his players despite the heavy defeat.

“I think we played a very good first half but unfortunately for us, we had two players absent due to suspension. We were fighting for 20 minutes with Iran and this was not an easy level. As we approached the end of second half, the players were fatigued,” said Molina.

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Kyrgyz Republic, who lost all their three previous encounters against Iran, had the first look at goal in the opening minute when keeper Bekbolot Akmataliev sent a long ball for Daniiar Talaibekov, who couldn’t get his header on target.

Akmataliev’s reflexes were put to the test moments later when he thwarted Salar Aghapour’s grounded effort and then kept out Behrooz Azimihematabadi twice before the Iran No 14 was denied by the bar followed by a block on Ali Khalilvand’s effort from distance.

Iran continued pressing and broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Azimi found space down the centre to strike the ball into the top right corner of the net.

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Kyrgyz Republic responded immediately, equalizing a minute later when Akmataliev squared the ball to Amanbaev Donierbek, who beat his marker on the turn before slotting home a grounded effort, leaving Iran keeper Bagher Mohammadi stunned.


Iran restored their lead two minutes later when they were awarded a free-kick with Aghapour curling his effort over the wall and into the top right corner.

Kyrgyz Republic fell further behind three minutes after the restart when they were caught on the counter-attack when Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh played on the ball for Saeid Abbasi to strike home from just above the arc past a diving Akmataliev.

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Despite Kyrgyz Republic’s best efforts, Iran scored their fourth in the 25th minute after Abbasi gained possession before squaring it to Hassanzadeh to tee up Mahdi Karimi to slot the ball through the legs of Akmataliev.

Karimi doubled his tally in the 35th minute after collecting the ball off Aghapour’s cutback from the left flank to slot home on the turn from the top of the box before Hassanzadeh made it 6-1 from the penalty spot.