TEHRAN – Sardar Azmoun starred with two goals as Iran thrashed Bahrain 3-0 in Group C of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 on Monday.
The three points saw Iran leapfrog Bahrain into second place on 12 points, two points behind Iraq with both sides having two matches remaining.
The defeat was a blow for Bahrain, who is third on 12 points with just one game remaining in the race to advance to the third round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Team Melli was a different side after the break and was finally rewarded in the 54th minute when Azmoun slotted past Mohammed Abbas to break the deadlock, courtesy of Taremi’s perfectly timed through pass.
The Zenit striker scored once again through a counter attack in the 61st minute as Taremi displayed impeccable control to collect the ball, with his pass finding a racing Azmoun who slotted home.
Taremi converted Ahmad Nourollahi’s pass with a strike into the bottom left corner of the net in the 79th minute.
Iran will play Cambodia on Friday while Bahrain will end its campaign against Hong Kong on June 15.