CAFA Nations Cup:
Iran survives early scare to beat Afghanistan
Iran got off to a winning start at the CAFA Nations Cup, coming from behind to beat Afghanistan 3-1 in the Group B opener in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Friday.
With star players Sardar Azmoun, Saeid Ezzatollahi, Mahdi Qayedi, and Alireza Beiranvand missing the eight-team tournament for various reasons, Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei fielded a second-string lineup of the domestic league players for the game against the world’s 161st-ranked team.
The Asian powerhouse, however, was stunned midway through the first half when Omid Musawi beat the offside trap before his tame effort went past Persepolis goalkeeper Payam Niazmand.
It took Sepahan striker Majid Aliyari just 26 minutes into his international debut to get on the scoresheet, as he headed in a point-blank finish from club teammate Omid Nourafkan’s corner kick.
Tractor forward Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh – the leading marksman in the Iranian top flight last season – put Iran in front with a low drive from inside the box in the 36th minute.
Aliyari bagged his second of the afternoon after the break, tapping in Hosseinzadeh’s low cross from close range in the 64th minute.
Next for Iran is a game against India on Monday, before Team Melli squares off against Tajikistan on the final day of the group phase on Thursday.
India defeated Tajikistan 2-1 later on Friday to sit second to Iran in the table.
Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan gave India a two-goal lead inside 13 minutes before Shahrom Samiev pulled one back for the cohost in the 23rd minute.
The winner of the group will advance to the final showpiece at Tashkent’s Olympic City Stadium on Sept. 8, with the two runners-up squaring off in the third-place match.
Group A features cohost Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Oman.
Iran beat Uzbekistan 1-0 to win the first edition of the CAFA Nations Cup in 2023.