Iran Thrash India 3-0 to Top Group D [VIDEO]

Goals from Sardar Azmoun, Andranik Teymourian and Mehdi Taremi proved the difference as Carlos Queiroz’s side claimed their second win of the campaign and move ahead of Oman and Guam who had earlier drawn 0-0, on goal difference.

Despite the backing of a passionate home crowd, India fell behind in the 28th minute, Azmoun leaping highest to head home a pinpoint Teymourian free-kick.

Bloodied and yet unbowed, India defended resolutely for the remainder of the first half, but were undone within a minute of the second period when Taremi made the most of slack play by the Indian rearguard before finding Iranian captain Teymourian who fired home past goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Iran rubber stamped their victory some three minutes later as yet more hesitancy in the India defense saw Omid Ebrahimi find Taremi who finished with aplomb to effectively end the game as a contest.

The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals and the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The next best 24 teams from the preliminary stage of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining slots (12 slots or 11 slots + 1 slot for the host) in the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup.