Iran revived their Tahiti 2013 hopes with an action-packed 5-3 victory over Senegal to leave Group C intriguingly poised.

Senegal scored a powerful 5-4 win over Ukraine to open their Tahiti 2013 campaign two days ago, while the west Asians knew their tournament ambitions were on the line having fallen to a 4-1 defeat to Brazil.

Iran made the perfect start with Mohammad Ahmadzadeh scoring in the second minute. Senegal thought they had equalised from the ensuing kick-off only for the goal to be ruled out by the match officials.

It was to be double anguish for Senegal soon after as Ahmadzadeh doubled the advantage with a flicked header to give Iran a 2-0 lead by the third minute mark.

It could have soon been a three-goal margin as Farid Boulobashi came within inches of perhaps the most spectacular goal of the tournament but his athletic volley crashed off the underside of the goal and onto the line.

Senegal hit the frame of the goal after the restart, and captain Ngalla Sylla halved the margin soon after.

Incredibly they equalised almost immediately with goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini conceding an own goal, only for Amir Akbari to score virtually from the kick-off for a third goal within 30 seconds.

Ahmadzadeh nabbed his second before the end of the middle period as Iran made it 4-2 for a handy advantage.

Senegal pushed hard in the dying period of a torrid encounter and came within inches of scoring on several occasions, before Sylla rocketed home a third.

But still the scoring was not over as Boulobashi netted with a sweet strike midway through the final period.