Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games:
Iran U23 defeats UAE in football opener
The Iranian under-23 national team beat all odds to get off to a flying start in the men’s football event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, defeating the United Arab Emirates 3-1 in the Group B opener on Wednesday.
Despite entering the tournament on the back of a hampered preparation, with head coach Hossein Abdi having expressed frustration at the pre-match press conference after having only 15 outfield players and three goalkeepers at his disposal for the game, Iran started on the front foot at Wave Stadium Kariya but had to wait until the 49th minute to break the deadlock through Persepolis striker Pouria Shahrabadi, whose free header from Farzin Mo’amelehgari’s cross found the bottom corner.
The second goal came just three minutes later, when Emirati midfielder Solomon Sosu made a mess of clearing Shahrabadi’s effort and put the ball into the back of his own net.
English-born midfielder Mackenzie Hunt gave the UAE a lifeline five minutes later when his in-swinging cross from the right flank went straight past Iranian goalkeeper Mohammad Khalifeh.
Yousef Mazraeh restored the two-goal cushion in the 88th minute. The Foolad Khuzestan winger was first to the rebound after Kasra Taheri’s effort from the edge of the box was blocked, sending the ball past Emirati goalkeeper Khaled Al-Mohtadi with a diving header.
Chasing a first medal at the Asian Games since the Doha 2006 bronze, four-time gold medalist Iran will be back in action against China on Sunday before concluding the group stage against North Korea three days later.
The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
Elsewhere, Thailand came from behind to beat Kyrgyzstan in a thrilling Group A opener on Wednesday.
Uzbekistan made a statement start to its campaign on Tuesday, thrashing the Philippines 5-1 in Group C, with Vietnam and Kuwait sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
South Korea also enjoyed an emphatic win in its opening game in Group D, hammering Qatar 4-1 on Tuesday.