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AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers:
Iran hammer Bangladesh in Group G opener
Bangladesh offered stiff resistance to 13-time champions Iran in the opening minutes with goalkeeper Jahid Rabbi deflecting Masoud Yousef’s shot onto the bar before blocking Ali Khalilvand’s attempt.
Iran’s persistent pressure bore fruit in the 10th minute, Hossein Sabzi capitalising on a mistake from Srabon Shakil to score and was quickly followed by the second thanks to a near post flick from Hossein Tayebi.
Tayebi made it 3-0 a minute later, smashing a high ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle with Mohammadhossein Bazyar adding another as Bangladesh struggled to cope with Iran’s power.
Yousef then squeezed a low shot home in the 16th minute before Behrooz Azimi fired home four minutes later for Iran to take a commanding 6-0 lead into the break.
Iran maintained their intensity after the interval with Bazyar rifling in an unstoppable shot in the 21st minute after space opened up for him on the edge of the semi-circle.
Amihossein Gholami then smacked an effort against the bar as Bangladesh held Iran at bay until the 32nd minute when Mohammadhossein Derakhshani teed up Khalilvand to strike home.
Iran wrapped up an outstanding performance with further goals from Saied Momeni (35th), Tayebi (37th), Mahdi Karimi (37th) and Gholami (38th).