Bangalore: India on Tuesday slumped to their third successive loss in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they suffered a 0-3 thrashing at the hands of mighty Iran in a group match here.
Lacking in international exposure and vastly inferior in technique as compared to their more fancied rivals, the Indians put up a gritty fight in the first half but broke down later by conceding two quick goals in the early part of the second session in the Group D match at Kanteerava Stadium.
The good work from the central defenders Arnab Mondal and Sandesh Jhingan ensured that India trailed just 0-1 at half time but the Asian heavyweights, the highest ranked team in the continent, pumped in two goals in the space of four minutes to kill the game at that stage itself.
Sardar Azmoun (29th), Andranik Teymourian (47th) and Mehdi Taromi (51st) were the goal scorers as Iran broke the Indian defence gradually as the game progressed. The visiting side, coached by Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, could have scored more had they utilised the chances that came their way.
On the other hand, the Indians did not have even a clear look at the Iran goal as the visitors completely dominated the match. The Indians could string together very few threatening moves and they had to desperately defend their citadel for most part of the match.
To be fair to the Indians, who are ranked 155th in the FIFA charts as against the visiting side's 40th, they maintained the shape in defence to deny the Iranians' incessant attack for a large part of the match.
With the loss on Tuesday, India are yet to open their account in the qualifying round. They have lost to Oman and Guam in their earlier matches. Iran, on the other hand, jumped to the top of the group with seven points from three matches. India next play Turkmenistan in an away match on October 8.
India coach Stephen Constantine made two changes to the side that drew goalless against Nepal. Goalkeeper Subrata Paul was surprisingly made to warm the bench in favour of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who became the 498th player to feature for the Blue Tigers, while Arnab Mondal was named for Francis Fernandes.
The home side lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with captain Sunil Chhetri leading the attack alongside Jeje Lalpekhlua and Robin Singh while Jhingan and Mondal helmed the defence. Jhingan and Mondal had excellent games but the other two in defence -- Pritam Kotal and Narayan Das -- were off colour.
Fans take selfies with Iran coach Carlos Queiroz. (Photos: PTI)
Iran made repeated forays from the left side through Vahid Amiry. It was his cross that created confusion in the Indian defence and Mondal's clearance went just inches away from being an own goal.
Iran's continued pressure paid off at the half hour mark when striker Azmoun, known as ‘Iranian Messi’, placed his header perfectly in the far corner from Teymourian's free-kick to give the away side the lead.
A few minutes later Eugeneson Lyngdoh's attempted bicycle kick was blocked by an Iranian defender.
Iran continued from where they left off and within minutes of the restart doubled their lead. Dejagah's high shot towards the far post was completely misread by both Narayan and Gurpreet who thought the ball had crossed the goal-line.
This allowed Taremi to head it back into play for his captain Teymourian to drill the ball into the right corner with Gurpreet caught flat footed. The home side's defence that put up a gritty fight in the first half looked out of sorts as the Iranians made it a one-sided match with their pace and power. Mehdi Taremi then inflicted more misery on Constantine's men as he made it 3-0 in the 51st minute after some sloppy defending from India once more.
