Iran's Dominance Amidst Over 70,000 Afghan Migrants

Iran's U23 national football team achieved a 6-0 victory against Afghanistan, marking their third consecutive win in the first round of the 2016 Olympic qualifying matches. The match took place at Azadi Stadium, but for the first time in Iranian football history, the opposing team had full control of the stadium. In a remarkable reception from Afghan spectators, over 70,000 people attended the Azadi Stadium to support their team throughout the match. This stadium has not been filled for a long time, not during Persepolis or Esteghlal matches, nor even national team competitions. However, a U23 match attracted over 70,000 Afghan migrants residing in Iran to the stadium. The second tier was completely occupied by them, and more than half of the first tier was also theirs. The number of Iranian spectators reportedly did not exceed three hundred. The players sent onto the field by coach Mohammad Khakpour included Mohammadreza Akhbari, Mohammad Hossein Moradmand, Roozbeh Cheshmi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh (substituted by Behnam Barzayi in the 62nd minute), Shahin Saqebi, Ahmad Nourollahi (substituted by Alireza Naghi Zadeh in the 46th minute), Milad Kamandani, Hossein Fazeli, Milad Mohammadi, Ali Abdollahi Zadeh (substituted by Ehsan Pehlavan in the 59th minute), and Sardar Azmoun. For the Afghan U23 team, players included Hamid Haji Abdullah, Navid Nadem, Seyed Mohammad, Samim Kohestani, Mohammad Anwar, Parviz Kazemi, Mohammad Maroof, Farid Hakimi, Rohollah Iqbalzadeh, Safiollah Azizi (Abdul Raouf), and Masoud Abdulsayed (Abdulmanan), coached by Hossein Saleh from Iran. The first goal for Iran was scored by Sardar Azmoun following a deep pass from Shahin Saqebi. The second goal was a header by Mohammad Hossein Moradmand. Moments later, Milad Kamandani increased the lead with a side-foot shot. In the dying moments of the first half, Iran's captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh earned a foul from the opponent and scored a beautiful free-kick. In the second half, Roozbeh Cheshmi headed in a cross from Alireza Jahanbakhsh. The sixth goal was also scored by Sardar Azmoun, placing him at the top of the tournament's scoring table. The Iranian Olympic team, having defeated Nepal, Palestine, and Afghanistan so far, currently leads the group with 9 points, 14 goals scored, and no goals conceded, while Saudi Arabia is in second place with 7 points. Iran's last match in this stage will be against Saudi Arabia. This team, which previously drew 0-0 against Afghanistan at Dastgerdi Stadium, managed to defeat Nepal by 6 goals.