Iran Downs Syria in AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Eliminated Iran football team defeated Syria 12-0 in the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday.
Zahra Ghanbari opened the scoring with her now customary early goal. After scoring within the first 14 minutes against Singapore, and eight against Vietnam, Ghanbari this time took less than three minutes to give her side the lead, though goalkeeper Noor Jumaa might have done better with her shot from distance.
From then on, the match became something of a procession, as Iran repeatedly bypassed Syria’s high defensive line to set up easy goals for Ghanbari, Shaghayegh Rouzbahan and Sara Zohrabinia, who bagged a first half hat-trick to give her side a 6-0 half-time lead.
Iran’s dominance continued unabated in the second half, as Zohrabinia added to her tally shortly after the break, before Fatemeh Ghasemi buried a free kick, and Ghanbari completed her hat-trick to make it nine.
Zohrabinia took her personal tally to five, while Ghanbari scored her fourth and Sara Ghomi completed Iran’s dozen as they handed Syria a third consecutive double-figure loss.
It was the second win of the tournament for Maryam Azmoun’s Iran, who was eliminated after losses to Myanmar and Vietnam.
Iran also defeated Singapore 6-0 in the competition.
