IR Iran 4-0 Hong Kong, China
The Iranians had dominated throughout the first half without finding a way past goalkeeper Chan Sun Kun, who comfortably gathered a 40th minute free-kick from Saeid Saharkhizan in a rare sight of goal for either side in the first period.

Hong Kong, China were almost gifted the lead eight minutes after the interval when a poor pass out of defence by Farzin Moamelehgari presented Ma Hei Wai with an opportunity to strike but his weak effort did not trouble Mohammad Khalifeh.

 

IR Iran eventually broke through with 20 minutes remaining when Mehdi Jafari’s free-kick from wide on the right swung towards goal before bouncing in front of Chan and crossing the line.

Three minutes later Hong Kong, China’s inability to fully clear when under pressure again resulted in Ammirmohammad Razaghinia coolly stroking his right-foot shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

 

In the 87th minute Kasra Taheri converted Arshiya Vosoughifard’s cut-back from the left bye-line at close range to claim his side’s third and, in the third minute of added time, the substitute scored from three yards out to put the result beyond any doubt.

Junior Ndiaye had given the UAE the lead in the seventh minute but Eduardo Pedemonte’s sending off six minutes later for a foul on Matar Alshamsi meant the home side were able to pick up the three points at Al Nahyan Stadium.

Yousif Al Marzooqi headed in the second in the 16th minute and a minute later Alkas cut in from the left to hit an unstoppable shot for his side’s third, and his first of the evening.

Solomon Sosu slammed home the fourth on the half hour mark after a weak punch by goalkeeper Josiah Jones and Mohammed Almansoori stepped onto his left foot inside the area to calmly score the fifth four minutes later.

Ahmad Yadoo’s header made it 6-0 eight minutes before the break while Alkas scored his second when he bent a shot around the goalkeeper two minutes from the end of the half.

Mansoor Almenhali nodded in the eighth a minute later and Almansoori scored with a coolly converted free-kick from 20 yards out three minutes into added time.

The goals continued after half time, with Almenhali registering with a right-foot shot as he ran along the 18-yard line four minutes into the second half and Dhari Fahad capitalised on a mix-up between Jones and his defence to net the 11th in the 62nd minute.

Alkas completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute when he slammed a right-footed shot past Jones at his near post while Eisa Khalfan bundled Ghaith Almusharrkh’s cross from the right over the line two minutes from time to top off a successful night.