Iran ease past Afghanistan in U23 Asian Cup qualifiers
Two goals in each half saw Iran beat Afghanistan 4-0 in Tashkent on Saturday – a second successive victory for Reza Enayati’s side in the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Mohammad Qorbani glanced home to break the deadlock in the 29th minute before Hossein Goudarzi’s header on a Mohammad-Javad Hosseinnejad’s set-piece doubled the lead nine minutes later.
Hull City striker Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Sepahan prodigy Hosseinnejad were also on the scoresheet after the break as Iran moved level on six points with Uzbekistan, which thrashed Hong Kong by 10 unanswered goals, in Group E of the qualifiers.
Uzbekistan’s superior goal difference means Iran will still have to beat the host – an Asian under-23 champion in 2018 and runner-up to Saudi Arabia last year – on Tuesday to progress to next year’s finals as one of the 11 group winners.
The top four runners-up will also qualify for the tournament, starting April 15 in Qatar.