Hisor (Tajikistan), Sept 1 (UNI) India went down 0-3 against IR Iran in their second match of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 at the Hisor Central Stadium here today.
After a tense first half that ended goalless, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, before substitutes Ali Alipour (89’) and Mehdi Taremi (90 6’) struck late to hand the Asian giants a comprehensive victory.
Iran, the defending champions and ranked 20th in the FIFA Rankings, 113 places above India, imposed early pressure, forcing India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into crucial saves. Despite this, India’s defence stabilised and successfully limited Iran’s clear-cut opportunities in the opening 45 minutes.
The Blue Tigers’ first meaningful attack came in the 24th minute, when Suresh Singh Wangjam’s cross found Nikhil Prabhu inside the box, but his shot was blocked. India gradually gained confidence, producing a few promising moves through Vikram Partap Singh on the right wing, though Iran’s defence held firm.
The second half began in a similar vein, with India absorbing pressure and defending in numbers. Iran finally broke through in the 60th minute, when Hosseinzadeh’s header, initially blocked by Rahul Bheke, fell kindly for him to score from close range.
India head coach Khalid Jamil responded by introducing attacking options, Manvir Singh Jr, Mahesh Naorem, and Jithin MS, which briefly lifted the Blue Tigers’ attacking threat. Manvir’s cross in the 72nd minute found Bheke at the near post, but his header went wide.
Iran’s substitutes Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Mehdi Taremi proved decisive in the dying minutes. Alipour doubled the lead in the 89th minute following a rebound from Taremi’s effort, and Taremi struck again in injury time to complete the 3-0 scoreline. India’s late efforts, including a shot from Jeakson Singh deep into injury time, failed to trouble Iran’s goalkeeper Payam Niazmand.
The result highlighted the gulf in experience and ranking between the two sides, but India showed resilience, particularly in defence during the first half, and glimpses of attacking promise in the second.
India lineup: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK) (C), Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam (Jeakson Singh Thounaojam 54’), Vikram Partap Singh (Manvir Singh Jr. 68’), Irfan Yadwad (Mahesh Singh Naorem 68’), Muhammed Uvais, Danish Farooq (Chinglensana Singh Konsham 54’, Jithin MS 68’), Ashique Kuruniyan (Lallianzuala Chhangte 83’).
