Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Mehdi Taremi scored twice as Iran crushed Yemen 5-0 in the war-torn country’s Asian Cup debut on Monday to fire an ominous warning to their title rivals.
Team Melli’s dominant performance in Abu Dhabi was in stark contrast to joint-favourites South Korea, who scraped past the Philippines while China profited from a goalkeeping howler to spark a comeback against plucky Kyrgyzstan.
Looking to end a 43-year title drought since last winning Asian football’s most coveted prize, Iran ruthlessly dispatched Group D minnows Yemen.
Iran took just 12 minutes to take the lead as Taremi finished clinically from close range after a shot from Sardar Azmoun was spilled by Yemen keeper Saud Alsowadi.
Captain Ashkan Dejagah doubled his side’s lead in the 23rd minute with a low free kick which cannoned in off the post and the hapless Alsowadi before Taremi powered home a bullet header moments later.
Sardar Azmoun tapped in a fourth goal seven minutes into the second half, by which time Iran were playing some champagne football, pulling off extravagant flicks and back-heels that left Yemen’s players chasing shadows.
When substitute Saman Ghoddos volleyed home Iran’s fifth from the edge of the box after 78 minutes the Yemen players looked physically shattered and only the woodwork prevented Mahdi Torabi adding a spectacular sixth in injury time.
A day after holders Australia were stunned 1-0 by Jordan, South Korea, still awaiting the arrival of Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, left it late before beating the Philippines by the same scoreline.
Fellow debutants Kyrgyzstan led China 1-0 at half-time but they were left to rue a costly error by goalkeeper Pavel Matiash, whose embarrassing own goal put the Chinese on course for a 2-1 win.
After hosts UAE were held by Bahrain, and Syria were kept to a goalless draw by Palestine, it provided more evidence that the gap has narrowed between Asian teams.
Separately, Thailand’s Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac paid the price for yet another shock result when he was given his marching orders following Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to India.
“Like all Thai football fans across the country, I am also disappointed with the result,” Thailand’s FA president Somyot Poompanmoung said, explaining the rapid dismissal.
“But as president of the football association, I cannot stand still with this problem.”
Kyrgyzstan looked capable of pulling off an almighty upset against China when Akhlidin Israilov smashed home the opening goal just before half-time in Al Ain.
from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2TyLaR4
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