The Iranian outfit, which was held to a 1-1 draw against Turkmenistan in its Group D opener in Tashkent on June 16, breezed past Guam 6-0 in its second qualifier for the prestigious international association football competition at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Thursday evening.
Group D front-runners Guam were back brought down to the earth after conceding six unanswered goals against hosts Iran; Striking youngsters Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi each completed a brace as Team Melli rediscovered their winning form.
The Persians got off to a sound start and 27-year-old Vahid Amiri plus Omid Ebrahimi strove to break up Guam’s defense and open up the scoring for the hosts. The Iranian team built up pressure on the visitors’ goal, and won a spot kick in the 8th minute after Sardar Azmoun was brought down in the penalty area. Ashkan Dejagah converted the chance to put Iran ahead.
Iran pressed ahead with its attacks and was about to earn the second goal in the 12th minute, though Guam’s goalkeeper Doug Herrick pulled off a save.
In the 31st minute, Mehdi Taremi received a long pass from Azmoun, and slipped the ball into the goal to make it two for the Iranian team. Azmoun headed in Iran’s third goal three minutes later.
Amiri picked up a back pass from Dejagah moments later and cracked a shot, which Azmoun placed inside the opposite side’s net in the 41st minute.
After the break, Guam players converged just outside of their own penalty area as a tactic to protect their goal and not concede more goals. However, Iranians did not relinquish superiority and in the 65th minute Taremi made his second field goal of the day to make the score 5-0.
A late goal by Iran’s Mehdi Torabi in the 89th minute took the score to 6-0.
Iran men's national soccer team will face off with India on September 8. Iran has been pitted against Guam, India, Oman and Turkmenistan in the Group D of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.