Impressive Iran hit back for 4-1 victory over Qatar

Sardar Azmoun scored twice and set up a third as the Islamic Republic of Iran came from a goal behind to hand Qatar a 4-1 defeat and keep pace with Uzbekistan at the summit of Group A in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 in Dubai on Tuesday.
Almoez Ali had given the Qataris the lead with a spectacular strike in the 17th minute but Azmoun scored twice – in the 42nd and 48th minutes – before laying on a third for Mohammad Mohebbi in the 65th minute to ensure the Iranians took all three points.
Mohebbi added the fourth eight minutes into stoppage time with a deflected header.
The win moves Amir Ghalenoei’s side onto 10 points and keeps them level with Uzbekistan, who notched up a 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates earlier in the evening. Qatar, meanwhile, remain stuck on four points from their opening four games.
“Iran performed better than us. They were the best, and I want to congratulate them,” Qatar coach Marquez Lopez said on Tuesday.
“Our goal of qualifying for the World Cup has not changed after this loss. The opportunity is still there, despite having the strong teams like Uzbekistan and Iran in the group.
“We have to fight for our chances until the end. There are still points to be earned from the six matches available, and we must work hard to obtain them,” he added.
The Iranians made a lively start but, while Mehdi Taremi’s effort inside the opening minute was called back for an offside decision, Mohebbi should have done better when he dragged his second minute attempt across the face of Meshaal Barsham’s goal.
But it was the AFC Asian Cup holders who were to take the lead in spectacular fashion. Lucas Mendes’ long ball over the top from deep released Ali behind the defence and the striker smashed a devastating first-time strike into the roof of Alireza Beiranvand’s net. Omid Noorafkan tested Barsham from 20 yards soon after the half hour mark but the attempt was too weak to truly trouble the Qatar goalkeeper, while moments later Azmoun clipped the top of the bar with a thunderous shot from distance as the pace picked up.
The Shabab Al Ahli striker did not have to wait much longer to equalise, however, rising unmarked in the penalty area to spear his header from Noorafkan’s cross into the top of Barsham’s goal with three minutes left in the half.
Two minutes into first half injury time the Qataris almost restored their lead, Boualem Khoukhi rattling the crossbar from Akram Afif’s searching cross from the right with a header that had Beiranvand beaten.
The woodwork was hit again at the other end when Mehdi Ghayedi unleashed a powerful right-foot shot to bring the half to a thrilling conclusion.
The drama continued into the early exchanges of the second half as the Iranians took the lead for the first time.
Ghayedi’s cross was headed into the air by Mendes but, as Barsham came to collect, he tripped over his teammate and Azmoun smashed into the empty net. Azmoun then went from scorer to provider as the Iranians added a third, the forward bursting through the Qatar defence before unselfishly rolling the ball across goal for Mohebi to pass the ball into an empty net with Barsham well beaten.
Mohebi completed the rout when he glanced Noorafkan’s corner across Barsham and into the bottom corner to put the seal on an emphatic win.
“It was a tough game but we know the Iranians are very strong, they have very good players (who are) at a high level,” said Brazil-born defender Mendes, who set up Ali for the opener in the 17th minute.
“It’s a bad start from us but still we have six games. We need to change our level. Many mistakes, we need to improve.”