Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Iran scored three-second-half goals to make it two-out-of-two wins in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers as the Group C hosts saw off Palestine 3-0 on Friday.
Following a goalless first half at the PAS Stadium Iran took the lead four minutes after the interval through Sardar Azmoun, scorer of two goals for the senior side at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, with the Russia-based winger finding the net for the second time in the U-23 qualifiers having opened his account in the 5-0 win over Nepal in their Group C opener on Monday.
Azmoun’s goal was all that separated the two sides until the 80th minute when Iran doubled their lead through Arsalan Motahhari, who was also on target against the Nepalese, before Motahhari continued his rich vein of form for club and country when he netted Iran’s third from the penalty spot three minutes into second-half stoppage time.
It took the Naft Tehran forward’s tally to four in three games with his three goals in the U-23 qualifiers following his crucial strike in Matchday 3 of the AFC Champions League, when he came off the bench to score in Naft Tehran’s 2-1 come-from-behind win over Al Shabab.
Iran’s victory took them to the summit of the Group C table with six points, two clear of Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, who played out a goalless draw in the earlier fixture at the PAS Stadium.
Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams from all groups will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship 2016, with January’s 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio.