Iran among AFC U23 contenders
A long tradition of developing talented youngsters and an impressive performance in Group C of the qualifiers sees Iran heads into the AFC U23 Championship as one of the genuine title contender.
According to the-afc.com, while its qualification campaign did end with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in a top-of-the-table clash, emphatic victories over Nepal (5-0), Palestine (3-0), and Afghanistan (6-0) ensured Iran qualified comfortably for Qatar as one of the five best group runner-up, with its record second only to that of Group G’s second-place finisher Thailand.
Four of those goals came courtesy of the impressive Sardar Azmoun, who has already been in eye-catching form for the senior Iran national team, with the Russia-based forward also scoring four times in the joint qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup and twice during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia, which included a sublime individual effort against Qatar.
Meanwhile, Arsalan Motahhari has been making his mark as a potential Iran star of the future with a standout performance as Iran won the inaugural WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) U23 Championship, which was also hosted in Qatar.
The Naft Tehran front man, who scored three times in the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers, netted the second goal as Iran defeated Syria 2-0 in the WAFF U23 final and was also named the tournament’s best player at the regional competition back in October.
Iran’s Group A fixtures
January 12: Iran vs. Syria (Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 15: Iran vs. Qatar (Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 18: Iran vs. China (Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha)
Iran Professional League: Esteghlal held, Persepolis wins Four of those goals came courtesy of the impressive Sardar Azmoun, who has already been in eye-catching form for the senior Iran national team, with the Russia-based forward also scoring four times in the joint qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup and twice during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia, which included a sublime individual effort against Qatar.
Meanwhile, Arsalan Motahhari has been making his mark as a potential Iran star of the future with a standout performance as Iran won the inaugural WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) U23 Championship, which was also hosted in Qatar.
The Naft Tehran front man, who scored three times in the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers, netted the second goal as Iran defeated Syria 2-0 in the WAFF U23 final and was also named the tournament’s best player at the regional competition back in October.
Iran’s Group A fixtures
January 12: Iran vs. Syria (Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 15: Iran vs. Qatar (Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha)
January 18: Iran vs. China (Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha)
Esteghlal football team drew 2-2 with Malavan in the final match of Iran Professional League (IPL) before the winter break.
In the match held in Anzali’s Takhti Stadium on Friday, Jaber Ansari opened the scoring for Esteghlal just after eight minutes into the match.
Malavan striker Jalal Rafkhaei was on target in the 17th minute.
Esteghlal youngster Mohsen Karimi found the back of the net with a long-range shot in the 22nd minute.
Malavan put Esteghlal under pressure in the second half and finally equalized the match in the 77th minute after Rafkhaei scored from the penalty spot.
“We deserved to win the match but our strikers squandered their chances. I am satisfied with the way we played, but not with the final result,” Esteghlal coach Parviz Mazloumi said.
Furthermore, Naft Tehran defeated its host Saba 3-1, Tractor Sazi and Gostaresh finished in a 1-1 draw. Siah Jamegan defeated rock bottom Esteghlal Ahvaz 2-1.
On Thursday, Persepolis defeated Esteghlal Khuzestan 2-0 thanks to two goals from Omid Alishah and Mehdi Taremi in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
Struggling Foolad edged past Padideh, Sepahan and Zob Ahan shared the points in Isfahan derby and Saipa beat Rah Ahan 1-0.
Persepolis currently sits fifth in IPL table, five points adrift of Esteghlal.
Esteghlal remains top of IPL with 34 points, followed by Esteghlal Khuzestan and Zob Ahan with 33 and 30 points respectively.
Malavan striker Jalal Rafkhaei was on target in the 17th minute.
Esteghlal youngster Mohsen Karimi found the back of the net with a long-range shot in the 22nd minute.
Malavan put Esteghlal under pressure in the second half and finally equalized the match in the 77th minute after Rafkhaei scored from the penalty spot.
“We deserved to win the match but our strikers squandered their chances. I am satisfied with the way we played, but not with the final result,” Esteghlal coach Parviz Mazloumi said.
Furthermore, Naft Tehran defeated its host Saba 3-1, Tractor Sazi and Gostaresh finished in a 1-1 draw. Siah Jamegan defeated rock bottom Esteghlal Ahvaz 2-1.
On Thursday, Persepolis defeated Esteghlal Khuzestan 2-0 thanks to two goals from Omid Alishah and Mehdi Taremi in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
Struggling Foolad edged past Padideh, Sepahan and Zob Ahan shared the points in Isfahan derby and Saipa beat Rah Ahan 1-0.
Persepolis currently sits fifth in IPL table, five points adrift of Esteghlal.
Esteghlal remains top of IPL with 34 points, followed by Esteghlal Khuzestan and Zob Ahan with 33 and 30 points respectively.
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