AsianCup2023 | Group C : Iran 2 - 1 United Arab Emirates

Iran booked their place in the knockout stages with a 1-0 win against Hong Kong China four days ago, but still need at least a draw today to solidify a top spot finish. Breathing down their necks is a UAE side with four points in second place, which could already be enough to join Iran in the next round, but three points today in the Education City Stadium would see them go above their opponents and make first place their own. Moarami and Khalid Zadeh return to the back four for Team Melli, and Roma striker Sardar Azmoun gets his first start, having only appeared off the bench so far. The UAE make five changes to the team that drew with Palestine, as Al-Hamadi, Al-Hashmi, Al-Zahabi, Al-Ghassani and Abdullah all come into the starting eleven. Head coach Paolo Bento is suspended after being sent off last time out. Eighteenth minutes here and a corner for Team Melli. Lovely ball in, Azmoun with the header at the near post. A free header. But unable to find the target, puts it up and over. A little over 25 minutes gone here, Iran the team on top, looking the more dangerous coming forward. Azmoun, lovely through ball to Mehdi Taremi, and Team Melli's number nine slots it into the bottom corner. Lovely ball from Azmoun, one touch to settle himself and Taremi with the 1-0 lead for Iran. Team Melli in control at the break here. Start of the second half, Iran picking up where they left off, renting chances. Great shot from distance there from Gayedi. The dip on the shot as well, just wide. Still Iran asking all the questions, UAE doing a lot of defending so far, Azmoun from the edge of the penalty area. Great strike, just inches wide from finding that bottom corner. The UAE nearly starting to look a little bit more dangerous here. It's Ramadan, not a bad effort, skims off the surface. Nearly a problem for Beydan Bant. Always curling away though. Lovely ball over the top, put it on into the path of Al-Ghazani, he's gone down here. Coming together with Hossein Kanani, his contact on the player before the ball, VAR having a look and it will be a penalty. UAE with a chance to get themselves back into this, Yahya Al-Ghazani from the spot, Beydan Bant with the save. What a stop from the Iran goalkeeper, guesses the right corner, stiff right arm keeps it out. Just how costly will that missed penalty be? Poor pass here, Azmoun, no-look pass to Taremi, Taremi makes it 2-0, there's your answer. Mehdi Taremi with his second of the game, yet to score in this tournament until today and now he's got two. What a finish. Not long to go now, could there be a third for Iran, Azmoun is after all on goal here, just the keeper to beat, but he's put it wide, he's had his chances to score today on his first start. There's one back in midfield here, lovely through ball, Yahya Al-Ghazani on the edge of the penalty area, cuts inside, what a finish that is, makes up for the missed penalty and makes up for it in style. Lovely through ball from Ramadan, but still plenty to do there, great goal. So Iran make it three wins from three to sit top of Group C and can now focus solely on the next challenge ahead, while despite losing to Team Mali today, the UAE also go through to the next round in second place and on goal difference thanks to Yahya Al-Ghazani's second half strike.