Team Melli faced Kyrgyzstan in the final group match of CAFA Nations Cup 2023 this Friday evening. The match ended 5-1 for Iran with Mehdi Taremi scoring a hat trick (34′, 39′, and 56′) and Sardar Azmoun helping himself to a brace (56′ and 66′). Morzaev (52) scored the only goal of the host.

It is the second game in a row by Amir Ghalenoei players which was accompanied by a high-scoring victory, while the possession of the ball and the field was completed in the hands of the Iranian national team.

This team was able to score two goals in the first half by using the players’ tactical intelligence and the combined efforts of Mehdi Taremi. The second half was accompanied by the Kyrgyz shock. A blunder by Morteza Pouraliganji’s in clearing the ball in the box, and Beiranvand poor positioning and awareness, allowed the Kyrg striker to score their only goal of the match, to the delight of about 10,000 spectators present at the “Dolan Omurzakov” stadium in Bishkek.

It was for the second consecutive game against that the second-ranked team in Asia, that Team Melli has been breached with ease due to a combination of factors. That fact that Team Melli was easily scored against must have raised a few alarms in the coaching staff.

Amir Ghalenoei has some serious work to do on the defense.

Also, a point of concern was the failure in the game plan to change offensive moves, as the team tactics is becoming obvious. There has to be a combination of plans to attack as the stronger teams will not be so easily defeated by crosses from the flanks.

Mehdi Taremi showed his high quality when he again scored a hat trick for the second consecutive game.

The introduction of Sardar Azmoun to replace the ineffective Reza Asadi changed the game up front. the Pair Azmoun and Taremi scored three times.

Team Melli has now qualified for the final match to be played against Uzbekistan next Tuesday.

Apart from the strikers Azmoun and Taremi, Mohammad Mohebbi played a solid game as well. Ramin Rezaeian, Mehdi Torabi, and Omid Nourafkan were also at their best. Reza Asadi, Pouraliganji, Beiranvand were the weak links.