Iran vanquishes Guam 6-0 in FIFA World Cup qualifier
Understaffed Iran men's national soccer team has put on a sparkling performance yet in another 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, conquering the Guam side with an easy six-goal margin.
On Tuesday, the Iranian outfit, which was missing some players and staffers because of visa issues, brushed aside the hosts 6-0 in its fifth Group D qualifier for the prestigious international association football competition at the Guam Football Association Field in Dededo.
The Persians made a decent and promising start, and 29-year-old Ashkan Dejagah kicked a pass to teammate Mehdi Taremi, who was lurking in the goal area – colloquially known as the six-yard box in the 8th minute.
However, Taremi, who plays as a forward for Persepolis club in the Iran Pro League, failed to beat and the ball rolled past Guam’s goalpost.
Three minutes later, Taremi received a deep pass from Karim Ansarifard, and slipped the ball into the goal to score the opener for the Iranian team.
Iran pressed ahead with its attacks and Kamal Kamyabinia earned the second goal for the visitors in the 30th minute.
In the 35th minute, Ansarifard directed the ball at Guam keeper Doug Herrick, but his shot ricocheted off the vertical bar and returned to the game.
Iranian soccer players failed to produce any other goal scoring opportunities in the remaining minutes of the first half, and went into the breather with a two-goal lead.
After the break, Iranians did not relinquish superiority and sustained momentum until Ramin Rezaeian made it third for the Islamic Republic.
Amiri picked up a back pass from Dejagah moments later and cracked a shot, which Azmoun placed inside the opposite side’s net in the 41st minute.
The Iranian team won a spot kick in the 51st minute after Taremi was brought down in the penalty area by Guam’s John Matkin. The referee Ho Wai Sing from Hong Kong flashed the red card, and Matkin was sent off the pitch. Masoud Shojaei converted the chance to put Iran 4-0 ahead.
Ansarifard picked up a pass from Dejagah in the 54th minute, and placed the ball inside the opposite side’s net to nail the fifth goal for Iran.
A late goal by Taremi in the 63rd minute took the score to 6-0.
Iran’s goalie Alireza Beiranvand receives a red card in the 72nd minute after he committed a foul on a Guam player. Iran’s head coach Carlos Queiroz assigned Ezzatollah Pourghaz to assume the goalkeeping duties.
The win lifted unbeaten Iran men's national soccer team to 14 points, and landed it at the top of the Group D standings. Iran will face off with India on March 24, 2016.
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