Team Melli U-17 blanked Costa Rica 3-0 to top Group C with an all-win record in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Friday.
Iran had already secured a place in the Round of 16 with wins over Guinea and Germany, thus coach Abbas Chamanian elected to use give opportunity to some players while resting others.
In their final group engagement at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the Team Melli youngsters scored through Mohammed Ghobeishavi (25th minute), Taha Shariati (29th) and Mohammad Sardari (89th) to top the group with nine points from three matches.
Germany, who beat Guinea 3-1 at Kochi in the other match of the day, finished second with six points, and will now travel to Delhi to play against Colombia in the knockout round.
Costa Rica and Guinea finished the group stage with one point each.
Team Meli U-17 , who topped this group with 9 pints, will stay in Goa and will play against one of the third best teams from either Group A, B or F on Tuesday 17th October.
Keen to top the group, Asian powerhouse Iran employed five defenders and kept the rival attackers at bay, while finding the back of the net on three occasions.
After brief period of midfield battle, Iran slowly opened up the rival defence with raids from the flanks leaving Costa Rica team feeling panicky, and as a result , conceded two penalties in a span of four minutes.
Amferny Arias, while going for an aerial ball, brought down Younes Delfi inside the box and referee Hamada Nampiandraza awarded the spot kick, which Iran captain Ghobeishavi converted by sending the ball to the bottom right corner.
Under tremendous pressure in the face of Iranian offensive, Costa Rica again conceded a penalty when defender Karin Arce needlessly pushed down Younes Delfi while going for an aerial ball inside the box. On this occasion, defender Shariati had no problem converting the spot kick.
Costa Rica, who needed a win to keep their hopes of qualification alive, found the going tough and were not allowed space by the Iranian defenders.
After the break, Costa Rica coach Breansse Camacho brought his trump card Jose Alfaro in the hope of changing their fortunes, but to no avail.
Team Melli cruised through the second half before adding a third goal just before the final whistle through substitute Mohammad Sardari. The only disappointment for Iran at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was a second yellow card of the competition for Captain Ghobeishavi, which will rule him out of their Round of 16 match.