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| World Cup Qualifiers: Iran dominates at Tehran as India ends away games with zero points |
Russia 2018 World Cup Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2
Group D
Date: 24.03.2016
Venue: Azadi Stadium
Iran 4-0 India
Iran: E. Hajsafi(33rd, 66th), S. Azmoun(61st), A. Jahanbakhsh(78th)
Indian team coming from SAFF championship victory were expected to give strong performance in their last away game of group stage. Any point from this match could have given India a huge opportunity to get into top 4 spot and avoid play-off for Asian Qualifiers. But, to take anything out of top ranked Asian side was not expected to be an easy task given that both Sunil and Robin were missing due to injuries.
Iran playing before home crowd were attacking in numbers and was being stopped by some impressive goalkeeping efforts by Gurpreet Singh during the initial attacks. A poor defensive effort from Bikash Jairu means Iran had their clear chance at spot and Haji Safi easily converted the goal. At the half time, Iran had slender lead of one goal with India manage to hold the hope of getting something out of the same. But, the combination of good attack by Iranian attackers and defensive errors from Indian defenders resulted in the home side scoring 3 goals in second half winning comfortably.
India next plays Turkmenistan in their last group stage match at Cochin on 29th March. Indian team will have to play another play-off to qualify for AFC Asian cup qualifier and 3 points at home will help in seeding.
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