IR IRAN 4-0 NEPAL

All four goals came in the second half, with Mehdi Lamouchitaraji and Yasin Salmani finding the net either side of a brace from substitute Hossein Nokhodkar as Mehdi Mahdavikia’s side sent out an early warning.

In a match pitting one of the continent’s traditional powers against an emerging nation in Nepal, it was Bal Gopal Maharjan’s side who impressed early, keeping Team Melli Omid quiet in a goalless first half.

 

But Nepal's resistance was broken less than a minute after the interval, with Lamouchitaraji providing the breakthrough that had eluded his side in the opening 45 minutes.

Saipa midfielder Nokhodkar was introduced on the hour mark and the 19-year-old made a major impact, doubling Iran’s lead in the 77th minute before extending it further with his second goal two minutes later, before Sepahan’s Salmani beat Nepalese goalkeeper Arpan Karki to complete the scoring in the third minute of stoppage time.

 

Asia’s highest ranked men’s national team in senior football, Iran are aiming to go further than ever before at the U23 level at Uzbekistan 2022, with a quarter-final appearance in 2016 representing their best finish to date in this competition.

TAJIKISTAN 1-0 LEBANON

A late goal from Vahdat Hanonov rewarded Tajikistan for a strong opening night performance, as the group hosts grabbed a crucial 1-0 win over Lebanon in the later match.

Mubin Ergashev’s side controlled the match for most of the 90 minutes, but they looked like missing out on the three points their play merited until the Istiklol defender ventured forward to strike the winner three minutes from full time to delight the Central Republican Stadium crowd. 

The Central Asians were on the front foot for much of the contest, but Jamal Taha’s players defended in numbers. and with no lack of organisation, to keep them at bay.

Tajikistan’s Rustam Soirov breached the defensive line in the 22nd minute, only to be denied by an excellent one-on-one save from goalkeeper Antoine Al Douaihy, and the same attacker was foiled by an incredible goal-line clearance by Mohammad El Hayek in the second half after Al Douaihy had been caught off his line.

But the winner finally arrived in the 87th minute, with Hanonov appearing in the right place at the right time after Lebanon failed to clear a cross, and sending a low effort beyond the reach of Al Douaihy to the delight of Ergashev and his staff.