Tag: India

Uzbekistan and Iran meet in the final of CAFA Nations Cup 2025

The national football teams of Iran and Uzbekistan will face each other in the final of the CAFA Nations Cup on Monday, September 7, at 6:00 PM local time at the Olympic Stadium in Tashkent. Both Iran and Uzbekistan entered the final with 7 points, finishing as the top teams in their respective groups and setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash.

Iran, the highest-ranked team in the region, will be looking to defend its title after winning the previous edition of the tournament. Uzbekistan, playing with the immense support of a home crowd, will be determined to claim the championship on their own soil and secure a historic victory against a regional powerhouse.

The match has garnered significant international attention, notably with the confirmed attendance of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The Uzbekistan Football Federation announced that President Infantino will travel to Uzbekistan to review projects related to the further development of football in the country, visit the state-of-the-art National Football Center, and personally watch the final match of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. His presence as a special guest underscores the growing importance of Central Asian football on the global stage.

This final is not just about regional supremacy but also serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming joint FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaigns, adding an extra layer of significance to the encounter.
Iran defeated Afghanistan 3-1, India 3-0, and drew with Tajikistan 2-2 to reach the final.
Uzbekistan drew with Oman 1-1, defeated Turkmenistan 2-1, and Kyrgyzstan 4-0 to reach the final.

Team Melli Faces Tajikistan in Pivotal CAFA Group Stage Clash

Iran’s national football team, Team Melli, is set to take on Tajikistan today, Thursday, September 4, at 7:00 PM local time in Dushanbe. This third and final Group B match of the 2025 CAFA Championship presents a fascinating clash that, while framed within a regional tournament, offers a serious test for Amir Ghalenoei’s rejuvenated squad and a clear measure of the footballing divergence between the two nations.

A Common Language, A Different Footballing Reality

A unique subplot to this encounter is the shared Persian language, which could facilitate on-pitch communication and create intriguing interpersonal moments. However, football is ultimately decided by quality and pedigree. Here, Iran holds a significant advantage, boasting a rich history of World Cup appearances and decades of dominance in Asian football—a stark contrast to Tajikistan’s emerging status.

Iran: Seeking Refinement Amidst Results

Fresh from convincing 3-1 and 3-0 victories over Afghanistan and India, a renewed sense of discipline and confidence surrounds Team Melli. While the results have been perfect, placing Iran atop the group, the performances revealed that a new superstar has yet to emerge and consistently attractive football remains a work in progress. A draw or win against the hosts will see Iran advance to the final in Uzbekistan as group winners.

Coach Ghalenoei has been candid, admitting that preparations for the tournament were less than ideal and that player fatigue is a concern. Consequently, this match serves as a critical benchmark for assessing how his young team adapts to the pressures of an international away game.

Tajikistan: Fueled by Passion and Home Support

For Tajikistan, motivation will far exceed the pressure of the result. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd in Dushanbe, they are well aware that defeating Iran is a tall order. However, a cohesive, energetic, and tactically disciplined performance would itself be a monumental achievement for their football. They will likely employ a compact defense and look to disrupt Iran’s rhythm through aggressive pressing and rapid counter-attacks.

Keys to the Match

For Iran, the path to victory hinges on controlling possession, exploiting the width of the pitch to stretch the Tajik defense, and relying on the sharpness of strikers like Aliyari and Alipour to convert chances. The midfield battle will be crucial; they must play intelligently to neutralize Tajikistan’s emotional intensity and establish their own tempo.

Tajikistan’s hope lies in a spirited, organized defensive effort and capitalizing on any lapse in Iranian concentration to create a moment of surprise that could electrify the home crowd.

Conclusion: An Opportunity to Assert Dominance

While football is always capable of producing surprises, the gulf in technical quality and experience makes Iran the clear favorite. For Amir Ghalenoei, this is more than a group stage fixture—it is an opportunity to demonstrate that his young Team Melli can not only win but also display the discipline and fighting spirit that wins the hearts of fans.

Tonight’s match is a meeting of neighbors, but on the pitch, the divide is as wide as their histories in Asian football. With one win and one loss, Tajikistan dreams of a historic upset to reach the final, ensuring the seats of Dushanbe’s Hesar Stadium will be packed and roaring long before the referee’s first whistle.

Head2Head

Match List

#Match DateMatch TypeOpponentScoreResult
11993-06-13OthersTajikistan1-0W
21998-12-10Asian GamesTajikistan5-0W
32000-11-28World Cup QualifierTajikistan2-0W
42012-11-06FriendlyTajikistan6-1W
52025-09-04CAFA Nations CupTajikistanNA

Match Summary

MPWDLGFGAGD
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Goal Scorers

PlayerTotal Goals
Ali DAEI3
Abolghasim DEHNAVI2
Yaghoub KARIMI2
Mehdi HASHIMINASAB1
Karim BAGHERI1
Mohammad KHAKPOUR1
Ali MOUSAVI1
Ali Asghar MODIR ROUSTA1
Ahmad HASSANZADEH1
Alireza ABBASFARD1

Ghalenoei Takes Responsibility: Iran Coach Admits Preparation “Mistake” Despite Victory

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – In a display of candid self-reflection, Iran national team head coach Amir Ghalenoei shouldered the blame for his team’s lackluster preparation following a hard-fought 3-0 victory over India in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. While the scoreline suggested comfort, the post-match press conference revealed a coach deeply critical of his own planning.

A Frank Admission of Fault

Speaking to journalists on Monday evening, Ghalenoei began his remarks not with celebration, but with a surprising mea culpa. “Before talking about the game, I must admit to the mistake I made,” he stated unequivocally. “We should have entered this tournament with a better plan, and we needed to spend a few more training sessions in Tehran before coming here.”

Ghalenoei elaborated on the specific challenges that hampered his squad, pointing to extreme player turnover and fatigue. “We have a player who has played three games in 10 days. We had 18 changes to the squad, and we entered the CAFA Nations Cup with these conditions. With these conditions, we needed to spend at least five training sessions in Tehran and then enter the tournament. This is my fault, and I must admit it.”

This admission highlights the logistical difficulties often faced by national teams, particularly outside of FIFA-sanctioned windows, where coordinating player availability is a significant challenge.

Praising the Opposition and His Players

Turning to the match itself, the coach analyzed the tactical battle. He credited India’s disciplined defensive structure, which frustrated Iran for the entirety of the first half. “India defended with a multi-layered defense that it had created with 9 to 10 players and was looking for counterattacks,” Ghalenoei explained. “We had a good plan at the back of the field and did not give the opponent any chances.”

He noted that the breakthrough only came after his team adapted. “In the second half, we got to know them better and scored a goal. Usually, such games are more difficult because the opponent is more motivated and tries to not concede a goal by running.”

Despite his criticism of the preparation, Ghalenoei was quick to praise his players’ effort and resilience. “I thank all my players. Although they were tired, they played much better in the second half and found the solutions we needed.”

Acknowledging the New Era of Asian Football

In response to a question about Iran’s inability to break down India’s defense earlier, Ghalenoei offered a pointed commentary on the evolution of football across the continent. “Football has developed, and the era of playing with Maldives is over,” he said, referring to the once-large scorelines against lesser-ranked teams.

“You saw the Indian game; they have also improved, and everything is different. In the league, teams spend 6 weeks training and then play games to establish coordination, and yet they do not have the necessary freshness in the early weeks. We made a mistake by entering this competition with 18 changes without training, and this makes it difficult.”

His comments serve as a stark reminder that traditional Asian powerhouses can no longer expect easy matches, as formerly lower-ranked nations have significantly closed the technical and tactical gap.

Addressing the Military Salute

The press conference also touched on a moment before kickoff, where Iranian players were seen giving a military salute during the national anthem. Ghalenoei addressed the gesture with a measured response, first diverting praise to another national team.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate Iran’s U21 volleyball team on winning the World Championship title,” he began. Connecting the actions, he stated, “This is also our duty, and it is the least we athletes and footballers can do. That is it.”

The brief reply framed the gesture as one of national duty and solidarity with other Iranian athletes, deftly acknowledging the moment without delving into deeper political implications.

Ghalenoei’s frankness underscores the high expectations surrounding Team Melli. For a team with aspirations of competing with the world’s best, a struggling victory over India, despite the admitted preparation issues, is itself a cause for concern that the coach is clearly taking seriously.

Hosseinzadeh MVP of Iran vs. India match.

Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Team Melli and Tractor centar forward, was selected by the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 organizing committee as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the match against India.

Hosseinzadeh scored Iran’s opener. It was the second goal of the tournament for the Tractor forward.

Majid Aliyari won the MVP in the match against Afghanistan, where he scored a brace in his debut match.

Iran will play the final match of group B against host Tajikistan on Thursday.

Taremi Seals the Deal: Iran Overcomes Stubborn India to Secure Vital CAFA Victory

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Team Melli secured a commanding 3-0 victory over a resilient Indian side in their second Group B match of the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup at Hisar Stadium on Monday. However, the scoreline belied a tale of two halves, as Iran was frustrated for long periods before a flurry of late goals, including one from new Olympiacos signing Mehdi Taremi, sealed the crucial win.

After a goalless and often scruffy first half, the breakthrough finally came in the 59th minute through Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh. Iran then put the result beyond doubt with two goals in the final moments, courtesy of substitutes Ali Alipour (89′) and Mehdi Taremi (90+6′).

A Tale of Two Halves

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei rang the changes from Iran’s previous outing, fielding a new-look defensive pairing of Hossein Kanaani and Amin Hizbavi, while handing the captain’s armband for the first time to experienced right-back Ramin Rezaeian.

The first half was a story of Iranian dominance met with resolute Indian defending. The Blue Tigers, led by an inspirational performance from captain Sandesh Jhingan and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, organized a formidable low block. While Iran controlled possession and probed for openings, their final pass and finishing were consistently lacking, allowing India to reach halftime with a clean sheet intact.

The second half saw a more energized and determined Iranian side emerge. The pressure intensified, and the deadlock was finally broken just before the hour mark. A cross from the right flank by Kanaizadegan, caused chaos in the Indian box; after a goalmouth scramble, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh was quickest to react, poking the ball home from close range.

Super-Subs Make the Difference

Seeking to kill the game, Ghalenoei unleashed his bench, introducing a wave of quality including Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mehdi Taremi, and Ali Alipour. The move paid immediate dividends as the fresh legs overwhelmed a tiring Indian defense.

With just a minute of regular time remaining, a mild shot from Taremi cannoned off the post, and Ali Alipour was perfectly positioned to tap in the rebound and double Iran’s lead.

The victory was capped off in style deep into stoppage time. Alireza Jahanbakhsh delivered an immaculate cross from the right flank that found Mehdi Taremi striding into the box. The newly-signed Olympiacos striker displayed his class with a composed, first-time finish past the advancing Sandhu, providing a fittingly high-quality end to the match.

The Road Ahead

The defeat severely dents India’s hopes of reaching the final. Their tournament fate now hinges on their final group match against Afghanistan, where a positive result could still see them advance to the third-place playoff.

For Iran, the win all but guarantees a place in the tournament final. They need only a draw against host nation Tajikistan on Thursday to finish top of Group B. While the three points will be welcomed, the performance—particularly in the first half—will give coach Ghalenoei pause for thought. The team’s ability to find a solution and the impact of its world-class substitutes ultimately proved decisive, papering over what was, for long stretches, another unconvincing display.

India faces a tough challange against Iran

IFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The senior Indian men’s national team, after defeating hosts Tajikistan last week, are now winding up for the clash against Asian giants IR Iran, at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, which will kick off at 17:30 PM IST, on Monday, September 1, 2025. The match will be streamed live on FanCode.

India head coach Khalid Jamil credited the victory against the hosts to the unity amongst the entire team. “The win was all down to the unity that the players showed on the pitch. They all worked in unison. Not only the players, but the entire staff – the technical, non-technical, and medical staff all worked together, and the unity within the team is visible,” Jamil said to the-aiff.com on the eve of the match.

India (133rd in the FIFA rankings) next face Iran (ranked 20th), a match that may very well be termed as a ‘David versus Goliath’ affair. The Indian head coach, however, is focused on getting the Blue Tigers up and ready for the match against the Asian giants.

“The win in the last game was a huge motivation for us, but the main thing right now is for us to be ready for the Iran game. We’ve had two days to recover, and now we need to ensure that everyone is fresh when we face Iran,” said Jamil.

Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who scored the second goal in the 2-1 victory against Tajikistan and was named Player of the Match for his performance, stressed the importance of using the Tajikistan win to build momentum for the real objectives.

“Yes, we are happy that we got a win and that we have three points, but we must build on this win as a nation and as a team. We must continue to improve, because our main aim is to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the third consecutive time,” said Jhingan. “These games are important for us to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers (against Singapore).”

Iran have the march over India in the head-to-head record; the former having won four, while the Blue Tigers scored two victories against Team Melli, on the six occasions that the two sides have crossed swords. However, India’s last win against Iran came in 1959 in Ernakulam, when goals from Chuni Goswami, Yusuf Khan, and Tulsidas Balaram helped the hosts win 3-1.

India last faced Team Melli back in 2016 in the World Cup qualifiers, where the latter won 4-0 in Tehran. Of the current squad, only Jhingan, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and winger Udanta Singh were present in the team back in 2016.

“I think only the three of us (Jhingan, Sandhu, and Udanta) have played against them in this squad, so we know what kind of a challenge they will pose,” said Sandhu. And of course, they have only gotten better over the years, playing in the World Cup on a regular basis,” said Sandhu. “What we have learned playing against top opposition like Iran is that we have to make the most of our chances when they come by, and minimise our mistakes as much as we can, because such teams will punish any lapses.

“But the most important thing is to believe in the team and stay united at all times,” said Sandhu. “We must follow the plans laid out by the coach with all honesty. We must make sure that we make life difficult for them. We must show bravery and desire. Nothing is impossible in football – the Grimsby vs Manchester United (match) was an example of that.”

Team Melli Regroups with Focus on India After Opening WinTeam Melli News in CAFA 2025

Following a positive start to their campaign, Team Melli resumed training on Saturday with light recovery exercises and warm-up maneuvers. The session’s focal point was an extensive tactical briefing led by head coach Amir Ghalenoei and his staff, meticulously preparing the squad for their crucial September 1st encounter against India.

Despite fielding a new-look lineup in the 3-1 win over Afghanistan—a match where the team was well-organized and displayed neat, passing football—Coach Ghalenoei was quick to highlight lingering gaps in their performance. The solitary goal conceded came against the run of play but once again exposed a concerning lack of concentration in defense and Team Melli’s continued vulnerability to counterattacks.

The upcoming opponent signaled their strong intentions in Group B by securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over hosts Tajikistan. This result firmly establishes India as a formidable contender and likely presents Iran’s most significant challenge in the group stage.

In squad news, Mehdi Taremi, who made a brief cameo appearance against Afghanistan, has been granted permission to travel to Athens to finalize his transfer to Greek club Olympiacos. He is scheduled to return to Dushanbe via private jet in time to rejoin the team following the signing ceremony.

Meanwhile, defender Mohammad Khodabandehloo, who was substituted during the Afghanistan match, has suffered an injury and will depart the camp for Tehran to undergo further assessment. His replacement, Abolfazl Jalali, has been called up and is en route directly from Tehran to bolster the defensive line.

Indian Head to Head results

H / A / NMatchesWDLGoals+ / –
H22007 – 0+7
A640212 – 6+6
N32106 – 1+5
Total1181225 – 7+18
DateCompetitionH / A / NFinal scoreStadiumAttendance
24.03.2016World Cup QualifierH4 – 0Azadi Stadium – Tehran29,900
08.09.2015World Cup Qualifier / Round 2 – GROUP DA3 – 0Sree Kanteerawa, Bangalore14,500
13.05.1992Asian Cup Qualifier /A3 – 0Calcutta2,0000
07.12.1984Asian Cup / Group BN0 – 0National Stadium, Singapore10,000
07.03.1980Olympics Qualifier /N2 – 0National Stadium, Singapore11,000
13.12.1966Asian GamesN4 – 1Chulalongkorn University Stadium, Bangkok10,000
19.06.1964Olympics QualifierA3 – 1Rapindra Soria , Calcutta25,000
06.06.1964Olympics QualifierH3 – 0Amjadiah , Tehran30,000
18.12.1959Asian Cup QualifierA2 – 1Maharaja’s College : Ernakulam, India
08.12.1959Asian Cup QualifierA1 – 3Ernakulam, Kerela, India20,000
10.03.1951Asian Games / FinalA0 – 1Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi40,000

Iran’s Title Defense: Ghalenoei Bets on Experience for CAFA Nations Cup 2025


Head coach Amir Ghalenoei has named a seasoned 27-man squad for Iran’s upcoming CAFA Nations Cup 2025 title defense, opting for continuity and experience over a significant generational shift. The tournament will be held in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from August 29th.

Despite the general perception of the CAFA region’s modest competitive level—with Uzbekistan being the clear exception—Ghalenoei has largely stuck with his established core. The squad is a blend of veteran internationals and a select few emerging talents from the Iranian Premier League, signaling a clear intent to retain the trophy won against Uzbekistan in the 2023 final.

The team’s preparations are hampered by significant absences. Key stars such as Sardar Azmoun, Mehdi Ghaedi, and Ali Gholizadeh are all sidelined due to injury, while first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand is out through suspension. These omissions have undoubtedly diluted the squad’s overall strength.

Navigating the Group Stage

Team Melli’s campaign begins with a match against Afghanistan, a fixture they will be expected to win comfortably. The following games against India and hosts Tajikistan are anticipated to present progressively tougher challenges. However, the ultimate test is expected to be a potential final rematch against a strong Uzbek side.

Concerns Over Key Figures

The squad list reveals concerns regarding the fitness and form of its leadership. Captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh is currently without a club, having yet to secure a contract for the new European season. With transfer windows beginning to close, his match sharpness remains a major question mark.

Meanwhile, vice-captain and team star Mehdi Taremi finds himself in a difficult situation at Inter Milan. Despite his high-profile move, the striker has been relegated to train with the club’s U23 side and has been excluded from the senior squad as the Italian giants seek a buyer for him.

Alireza Jahanbaksh heading against Hunt of UAE

Squad Composition

The selection highlights the dominance of Iran’s domestic league, with the country’s top clubs providing the bulk of the players.

  • Sepahan: 6 players
  • Esteghlal: 5 players
  • Persepolis: 4 players
  • Tractor: 3 players
  • Other Clubs: The remainder of the squad is drawn from other domestic teams and includes three players from UAE’s Etihad Kalba.

The Full 27-Player Squad:


GOALKEEPERS:
1- Payam Niazmand – 30 years -(Persepolis),
2- Nima Mirzad – 28 years – (Mes Rafsanjan),
3- Seyed Hossein Hosseini – 33 years- (Sepahan)

Defenders:

4- Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan – 31 years- (Persepolis),
5-Mohammad Naderi – 28 years – (Tractor),
6- Aref Aghasi – 28 years – (Esteghlal),
7-Ramin Rezaeian -35 years- (Esteghlal),
8- Ali Nemati -29 years- (Foolad),
9- Omid Noorafkan -28 years- (Sepahan),
10- Amin Hezbavi – 22 years- (Sepahan),
11- Aria Yousefi -23 years- (Sepahan),

Midfielders:

12- Mohammad Mohebi – 26 years- (Rostov, Russia),
13- Mehdi Hasheminejad – 24 years- (Tractor)
14- Saman Ghodoos -31 years- (Etihad Kalba UAE),
15- Mehdi Mohebi -25 years- (Etihad Kalba UAE),
16- Mohammad Khodabandelou -25 years- (Presepolis),
17- Rouzbeh Cheshmi -32 years- (Esteghlal),
18- Alireza Koushki -25 years- (Esteghlal),
19- Mohammad Ghorbani -23 years- (Al-Wahda, UAE),
20- Mehdi Tikdari Nejad – 29 years- (Sepahan),
21- Alireza Jahanbakhsh – 32 years- (No Club),

Forwards:

22-Mehdi Taremi -33 years- (Inter Milan, Italy),
23- Mehran Ahmadi – 27 years- (Esteghlal),
24- AmirHossein Hosseinzadeh – 24 years- (Tractor)
25- Ali Alipour -29 years- (Persepolis),
26- Shahriyar Moghanlou – 30 years- (Ittihad Kalba , UAE),
27- Majid Aliyari -29 years- (Sepahan)

Iran youth wins big.

Iran’s U20 team under Hossein Abdi began the qualification with a resounding win against Host Laos in Vientiane with an 8-0 win in the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group G tie on Wednesday.

Iran took the lead after eight minutes with Farhan Bozorgianasl nodding at the far post from a deep outswinging corner kick delivery.

The four-time champions continued to be on the attack and doubled their advantage four minutes later from another set-piece, this time from a free-kick that Amirmohammad Razaghinia powered into the net.

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Defender Yaghoob Barajeh increased their lead in the 31st minute with a Laos mistake five minutes later allowing Esmaeil Gholizadeh to get on the scoresheet with Kasra Taheri capping an impressive first half for Iran with the fifth goal in the 41st minute.

image content

Despite showing improved defending at the start of the second half, Laos were undone again by Iran in the 63rd minute, Abbas Kahrizi producing a clever turn inside the box before slamming past Kop Lokphathip.

Iran were awarded a penalty with two minutes left to play, Barajeh sending his spot-kick into the bottom corner for his second of the game before another penalty in stoppage time was tucked away by Taheri to seal the resounding win.

Iran U20 will meet India who defeated Mongolia 4-1 in the earlier game, on Friday 27th September.

GOAL SCORERS

FIRST HALF.

Farhan Bozorgianasl 1-0 (8′)
Amirmohammad Razaghinia 2-0 (12′)
Yaghoob BarajeH 3-0 (31′)
Esmaeil Gholizadeh 4-0 (36′)
Kasra Taheri 5-0 (41′)

SECOND HALF
Abbas Kahrizi 6-0 (61′)
Yaghoob BarajeH 7-0 (p 88′)
Kasra Taheri 8-0 (91′)

Iran U20 goals

Iran’s women team gains its first point.

The-afc.com

Navi Mumbai: Iran held India to a 0-0 draw in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ Group A clash at the D.Y. Patil Stadium on Thursday.

India had the better chances but determined defending by Iran kept the hosts at bay as both teams now set their sights on their Matchday Two ties.
Iran, making their first AFC Women’s Asian Cup appearance, found themselves on the backfoot as India started aggressively with their attacks coming from the flanks.
India had their first attempt on goal in the second minute as Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi’s run down the left caught Iran by surprise but the midfielder’s effort was easily cleared by goalkeeper Zohreh Koudaei.

Iran found themselves under pressure again two minutes later when India’s Manisha Kalyan sent a delightful cross to Pyari Xaxa who, however,  sent her header wide.
With India controlling the pace of the game, Maryam Irandoost’s side saw very little of the ball but they could have taken the lead against the run of play in the 12th minute from a set-piece.

Samaneh Chahkandi sent a delightful ball into the area for Negin Zandi, whose looping header beat India goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, only to bounce off the crossbar.

India, however, continued to dominate but the South Asians missed several chances with Indumathi Kathiresan and Kalyan firing their efforts over the bar as the score remained 0-0 going into the break.

India continued to dictate the pace of the game after the restart with Kalyan Iran’s main tormentor when she sent a clever pass to Kathiresan who at full stretch missed the target by mere inches.
Thomas Dennerby’s side almost broke the deadlock just after the hour mark when Kathiresan made a darting run down the left after linking up well with Xaxa but her effort was undone when she slammed the ball into the side netting from close range.
Koudaei had to be on her toes a minute later when she denied Kathiresan from inside the box as Iran continued to hold out.
India were denied what looked like a sure goal in the 77th minute when substitute Manisha Panna sent a delightful cross to Dangmei Grace, whose header from close-range was denied by a one-handed save by Koudaei.
Dennerby’s India will be aiming to claim their first win when they face Chinese Taipei on Sunday, while Iran face eight-time champions China PR.

MATCH STATS

India

4-3-3
 0 – 0 Iran

4-4-2
AFC Women’s Asian Cup

India
1 A. Chauhan GK
3 M. Panna DF
4 A. Devi DF
7 R. Devi 82‎‘‎ MF
8 S. Yadav DF
9 A. Tamang MF
10 P. Xaxa 65‎‘‎ FW
12 I. Kathiresan MF
13 S. Ranganathan 55‎‘‎ FW
16 M. Kalyan 69‎‘‎82‎‘‎ FW
17 D. Chhibber DF

Substitutes
5 Shilky Devi 82‎‘‎82‎‘‎ Sub
11 D. Grace 55‎‘‎55‎‘‎ Sub
15 Renu 65‎‘‎65‎‘‎ Sub
22 S. Kumari 82‎‘‎82‎‘‎ Sub

Manager
– Dennerby MAN

Iran
1 Z. Koudaei GK
4 M. Motevalli DF
5 G. Banitalebi DF
6 Z. Sarbali 59‎‘‎ MF
8 B. Taherkhani DF
11 S. Chahkandi 59‎‘‎ MF
17 N. Zandi 88‎‘‎ FW
18 M. Mohammadi MF
19 F. Adeli DF
20 H. Dabbaghi 70‎‘‎ FW
23 S. Sadeghi 67‎‘‎70‎‘‎ MF

Substitutes
7 A. Chatrenoor 88‎‘‎88‎‘‎ Sub
10 S. Zohrabi 70‎‘‎70‎‘‎ Sub
13 Y. Farmani 70‎‘‎70‎‘‎ Sub
16 Z. Masoumi 59‎‘‎59‎‘‎ Sub
21 M. Nikkhah 59‎‘‎59‎‘‎ Sub

Manager
– Irandoost MAN