India vs Iran FIFA World Cup Qualifier Highlights: Iran Thrash India 3-0 to Top Group D
India held on resolutely in the first half but two quick goals in the second half totally deflated their spirit. India are now at the bottom of Group D following their 0-3 loss to Iran. Catch all the moments here.
It was a clinical display from Iran as they went on the attack right from the start. They did not give India a chance and they tested their defence on a consistent basis. Iran opened their account in the 29th minute and India held on in the first half. However, two goals in the space of three minutes in the second half deflated India and Iran clinched an easy victory to top Gropu D. Relive all the moments here.
20:55 hrs IST: There is the whistle and Iran have comprehensively thrashed India 3-0 in Bangalore. The attacking mindset of Iran was just too much for India to handle and they have crumbled. With this win, Iran are on top of Group D while India remain in last position.
20:53 hrs IST: Another shot from the No 20 jersey just goes wide of the right post. One feels this is it for both teams.
20:50 hrs IST: 90th minute: Three minutes of time added to full time. Iran are closing in on victory that will secure them the top spot in Group D.
20:48 hrs IST: 89th minute: Ashkan Dejagah misses a chance to make it 4-0. The shot is just goes over the left post as they look to extend their advantage.
20:45 hrs IST: 86th minute: A slight scuffle between the Iraninan and Indian players after a tackle. The referee steps in to have a word with the two teams.
20:40 hrs IST: 81st minute: A substitution for India. Jeje Lalpekhlua is replaced by Cavin Lobo. He plays for Atletico de Kolkata in the Indian Super League
20:39 hrs IST: 80th minute: We are now approaching the last 10 minutes of the match. It is a mad scramble between both teams. India are desperately trying to defend a relentless Iran who are attacking on a regular basis.
20:33 hrs IST: 74th minute: Khusro Heydari is replaced by Kaveh Rezaei as Iran aim to strengthen the defence.
20:32 hrs IST: 73rd minute: Iran win a corner. Once more, one of the Indian defenders head it out of the line but Iran are unable to capitalise.
20:30 hrs IST: 71st minute: Almost a close call for Sunil Chhetri. The skipper is in the penalty box and the opportunity is there to convert but he fails to do so as the ball deflects of an Iranian defender. India win a corner but that is again deflected by a defender. A second corner follows but it is a lame one and Iran get out of trouble easily.
20:28 hrs IST: 69th minute: A total of 19 fouls have been committed by both teams in this match so far. Iran have committed 11 while India have committed eight. It has been a pretty physical match so far.
20:26 hrs IST: 67th minute: Corner for Iran as one of the Indian defenders nearly put the ball in their own net. The kick is good but the header from Jalal Hosseini is just wide of the left post. Iran 3-0 against India.
20:24 hrs IST: 65th minute: Sardar Azmoun has a long shot and it just evades Gurinder as the ball goes past the right post.
20:21 hrs IST: 62nd minute: Taromi and Ebrahimi substituted by Ezzatollahi and Pouraliganji. For India, Jackichand Singh replaces Lyngdoh, who has been pretty sloppy tonight.
20:13 hrs IST: 55th minute: So far, there have been eight shots on goal by Iran. India, on the other hand, have had no shots on goal so far.
20:07 hrs IST: 49th minute: Another GOAL! India are falling apart here. Iran 3, India 0.
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India are falling apart in their defence here. It had been going so well for the first half but in the second, they have fallen apart. Mehdi Taremi scores from a decent range and makes it 3-0 for Iran. How much more pain will Iran inflict on India? Meanwhile, the Iranian fans have comfortably outnumbered the Indian counterparts in Bangalore.
20:05 hrs IST: 46th minute: Disaster for India immediately in the second half. The Iraninan strikers go for the goal and some of them raise a query of hand ball. Amidst all this, one of the Iraninan players flick the ball back in play and Andranik Teymourian seizes on the opportunity to net in a second goal. Iran 2, India 0.
19:48 hrs IST: 47th minute: That is the half time and Iran have totally dominated. They have been in the ascendancy and have not allowed India to have a chance. Sardar Azmoun scored in the 29th minute and since then, Iran have been on the attack. It will be interesting to see what are Iran's tactics in the second half.
19:46 hrs IST: 46th minute. OH MAN! That is a nasty collision. Jeje Lalpekhlua tries to get a ball away from an Iraninan defender but he collides heavily with the Iraninan skipper and goalkeeper Ali Reza Haghighi. He is writhing on the ground with pain but he is alright.
19:45 hrs IST: 45th minute: Two minutes added to the half-time score. Iran 1, India 0. The Iranians have been on the attack constantly.
19:44 hrs IST: 43rd minute: Oh, that is a painful moment for Jeje Lalpekhlua. He is clutching his ankle as he is brought down. The magic spray is out and he resumes. He had injured his ankle during the game against Guam as well.
19:41 hrs IST: 40th minute: Robin Singh has a shy at the Iranian Goal but he is unable to capitalise. A current period of stalemate is being played out as half-time approaches.
19:40 hrs IST: 39th minute: Another corner kick for Iran but India manage to keep it out. Iran are continuing to attack.
19:39 hrs IST: 38th minute: Indian defender Robin Singh is brought down in his own half and Iran have a foul.
19:38 hrs IST: 37th minute: Almost 2-0! Azmoun is causing all kinds of problems out there. The kick is spot-on from the mid-fielder and there is acres of space for Azmoun but Sandhu runs forward and catches the ball. Azmoun clutches his head in disbelief. Another touch could have resulted in a goal.
19:35 hrs IST: 35th minute: Poor clearing from Arnab Mondal. He does not get it far and Iran have a throw-in. However, it is cleared by the Indian defenders easily.
19:34 hrs IST: 34th minute: Pranoy Haldar is treading on thin ice here. He was yellow-carded in the 24th minute and here, he commits another foul.
19:33 hrs IST: 33rd minute: Almost a goal for India. Jersey No 7, Eugeneson Lyngdoh tries the bicycle-kick but it hits the head of the Iranian defender. First time that India have put pressure in the Iranian box.
19:31 hrs IST: 31st minute: The pressure is mounting as the Indian defenders scramble like crazy to ensure that they do not concede a second goal. Azmoun tries a long shot but it is deflected away. A corner results but it pouched safely by the keeper.
19:29 hrs IST: 29th minute GOAL! Azmoun strikes and the deadlock is broken. Iran - 1, India - 0.
A free kick and in the penalty area, Azmoun gets into position and neatly heads the ball to the left of Sandhu who has no chance. Great stuff from Iran's "Lionel Messi".
19:26 hrs IST: 26th minute: India are not yielding an inch to Iran as they continue to defend solidly. How long can they hold on against this relentless attack remains to be seen!
19:24 hrs IST: 24th minute: First yellow card of the game. India's Pronoy Haldar gets a warning for pushing an Iranian player and he is not a happy man. He shouts out his disapproval.
19:23 hrs IST: 23rd minute: There are six defenders who are trying to keep the ball out of the penalty box
19:20 hrs IST: 20th minute: Almost a chance for Iran. Good defending from Arnab Mondal. The cross from Taremi is intercepted well and it is a corner for Iran but it is kept out. India now on the attack.
19:18 hrs IST: 18th minute: India's Jersey No 7 commits a foul and it is a free-kick to Iran. India have committed three fouls so far while Iran have committed two.
19:17 hrs IST: 17th minute: Oh boy! This is a very close call. Sandhu does well to save India. The pass from midfield finds Azmoun who is lurking in the penalty area. He tries to get to the ball but Sandhu runs forward and slides to grab it.
19:15 hrs IST: 15th minute: Iran continue to mount the pressure and Azmoun gets the header in but once again it is an easy grab for Sandhu.
19:12 hrs IST: 12th minute: Good shot from the No 21 jersey, Mehdi Taromi, from far range but Sandhu calmly stops the ball. First real challenge for him.
19:10 hrs IST: India's Dhanpal Ganesh is brought down near the penalty box and he seems to be clutching his shin. He is been stretchered out.
19:08 hrs IST: A close call for India! Iran get the ball near the penalty area and the Indian defenders defend vigorously to get the ball out
19:06 hrs IST: Another tackle and India have a foul. However, an Iranian player argues with the referee as he feels that the Indian players are playing a bit too aggressively.
19:04 hrs: Some trouble for Iran. Sardar Azmoun, dubbed as the Iranian Messi, goes down just outside the penalty box. He is hit on the back of the head by an Indian defender as he attempts a header. He is down and is assisted out of the park. He is dizzy from the blow but he is alright.
19:02 hrs IST: Sunil Chhetri is brought down in the mid-field and there will be a free-kick. Another tackle and there are some words exchanged between a couple of Iranian and Indian players. Tense start to the match.
19:00 hrs IST: The match is underway with Iran kicking off proceedings. The first kick is shot wide from India. Already both teams are on the attack in the first minute itself.
18:56 hrs IST: Before the start of the match, here are some words of encouragement from the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Met the Indian team in Bengaluru. The boys are charged & ready to go for the big game against Iran today. #INDvIRN pic.twitter.com/0obekbRVEo
- Praful Patel (@praful_patel) September 8, 2015
18:53 hrs IST: There is plenty of support for India in this match against Iran. However, the stark reality is that they are facing an uphill task against a country that has featured even in the Football World Cup.
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18:48 hrs IST: India are currently in fifth position with no points from two games. They would be hoping to at least draw and finish in the top four in order to have a chance of qualifying for the Asian Championships. Turkmenistan, who have only one point from three games, will be hoping that Iran defeats India.
18:45 hrs IST: Here are the team sheets for both India and Iran
India's starting XI: Gurpreet, Kotal, Jhingan, Arnab, Narayan, Jeje, Ganesh, Lyngdoh, Haldar, Chhetri, Robin.
Iran's starting XI: Haghighi, Heidari, Haji Safi, Hosseini, Ebrahimi, Amiry, Teymourian, Montazeri, Taremi, Azmoun, Dejagah.
18:37 hrs IST: Some team news for both teams. For India, Romeo Fernandes is on the bench and a debut has been handed to Gurpreet Sandhu.
18:28 hrs IST: It is a vital clash for India as they take on the formidable Iranians in the 2018 World Cup qualifier match in Bengaluru. A win for Iran seals their spot in the 2018 World Cup while a loss for India will make their qualification for the 2019 Asian Championships hard. For the record, India are ranked No 155 while Iran are ranked 40 in the world and they boast of several players who have played in the European Leagues.
PREVIEW
Having lost to Oman and Guam, India will start as rank outsiders against Asian giants Iran. Stephen Constantine's team will surely be tentative against an Iranian side that has been consistent and goal-hungry.
India's biggest problem has been their conversion rate. Constantine lamented the wasted chances after India were held to a stalemate by Nepal in an international friendly last week. Creating opportunities is only half the job done. (Also read: FIFA rankings don't matter, results do, says Carlos Queiroz)
Iran have been doing their job really well. They thrashed Guam six goals to nothing last week. In June, India were humiliated 2-1 by tiny Guam. Therefore, the odds are really stacked against Constantine's team.
A win will take Iran to the top of group D while a victory will keep India's hopes alive for a berth in the 2019 Asian Cup in UAE.
Iran have been Asia's flagbearers at the world stage. It needed the brilliance of a Lionel Messi to stop them in their tracks at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Since then, Iran have played a dozen internationals and won eight. Their biggest triumph came against Chile at home. By contrast, India have one win from five internationals.
Iran have Handy Lead vs India in head-to-heads
India have seen good times against Iran, but that was almost six decades ago. India have beaten Iran twice, the last time in an Asian Cup qualifier in Ernakulam in 1959. India won 3-1.
India's first victory came in the inaugural Asian Games in Delhi in 1951. India won the gold medal beating Iran 1-0. But those were the golden days of Indian football. It will be foolish to expect a new generation of players will be inspired by history.
India and Iran have played 10 times. India have lost 7 times and drawn once. The gulf between the two nations can be gauged from the fact that Iran have scored 20 goals against India's 7.
Coach Constantine vs Coach Queiroz
This is Constantine's second innings in Indian football. A man who pays a lot of attention on physical training, Constantine is still trying to figure out the best formula for India's international success. Only if he had the support and vision of the All India Football Federation officials. Constantine is unhappy with India's football operations and at a time when the national federation is being dictated by its commercial partners, a bad defeat against Iran will only add to the problems.
Iran have a giant of a coach. Carlos Queiroz is a former Real Madrid boss and he has already proven his worth to Iran's demanding football officials. But Queiroz is taking nothing for granted. Rankings and reputation don't matter on the pitch and he knows India can be a potential banana skin.
Iran will feel quite at home in Bengaluru. There were hundreds of supporters at Iran's training on Monday. There was hardly an Indian fan to cheer the Sunil Chhetris and Sandesh Jhingans. India have their task cut for sure.
Ali Reza Haghighi