Iran thrashes Bahrain 6-0 in World Cup qualification

Iran routs 10-man Bahrain 6-0 in WCup qualifying Iran taught a helpless Bahrain a memorable lesson in front of 85,000 spectators in Tehran's Azadi stadium, making the most out of an early suspension of Bahrain's Al Hooti and defeating the Persian Gulf islanders 6-0 in World Cup qualification on Tuesday evening.
Carlos Queiroz had to do without injured Ali Karimi, Mojtaba Jabbari was chosen to replace the profilic veteran playmaker. Upfront, Mohammad Ghazi and Milad Meydavoudi got the nod, while youngster Karim Ansarifard was watching from the bench.
Bahrain boss Peter Taylor had to deal with a similarily hurtful blow, not having injured skipper Mohammad Salmeen at service.
Early red card
The match started with a bang when Bahrain were rightfully reduced to ten men in the very first minute of the game for a brutal two-footed challange aimed at Andranik Teymourian's ankle by Rashid Al Hooti.
Iran immediately showed they were willing to make the most of the numerical advantage, creating a couple of chances, but  Jabbari's shot from the edge of the box went wide and Ghazi's header could be saved.
Jabbari then beautifully created himslef space in the area after 13 minutes, but vollied the ball over the crossbar. A minute later, Khalatbari took on almost the complete Bahrain defense and unleashed a shot, which could be saved by the keeper though.
The homeside finally broke the deadlock after 22 minutes thanks to defender Jalal Hosseini. After long Teymourian throw-in the keeper couldn't hold on to a Jabbari volley and Hosseini converted the rebound.
The convincig Jabbari scored Iran's second also from a rebound 12 minutes later after Meydavoudi's blocked shot became the perfect serving for the Esteghlal midfielder.
Things turned from bad to worse for Bahrain when Hadi Aghily headed Teymourian's corner into the net to make it 3-0, three minutes before the break.
Team Melli remain concentrated
Iran continued to control the proceedings in second half and should have been rewarded eight minutes after the restart. Khalatbari got the ball at the far post but was denied twice from very short range, once by the keeper and then, after recollecting the ball and dribbling past the latter, by the foot of a defender.
Team Melli started to introduce long-distance shots as new tactical mean in second half and while a Khosro Heydari effort went wide shortly before the hourmark, Teymourian scored Iran's fourth with a thunderous shot from far outside.
Another good shot from far out by Jabbari shot went wide, two minutes later.
After 75 minutes, substitute striker Karim Ansarifard added a fifth when he vollied Teymourian's corner kick into the far corner.
Further substitute Gholamreza Rezaei completed the half-dozen with a header to a Khosro Heydari cross, seven minutes from time.
Khalatbari almost completed the second 7-0 within a week, but his shot from tight angle scraped past the post.
Team Melli on top
And so Iran had to settle with a legendary 6-0 thrashing of Bahrain to defend the lead in the group with seven points out of three games. Qatar, following their 3-2 win in Indonesia, stand second with five points while Bahrain are third with four points. On bottom of the table are pointless Indonesia.
Next task for Queiroz' men will be Bahrain in Manama on November 11, four days ahead of Iran's trip to Jakarta to face Indonesia. On the final matchday in February, Iran will host Qatar.
Iran - Bahrain 6-0 (3-0)
World Cup qualification, Group 4, Azadi stadium, Tehran
Iran: Rahmati - Heydari, Aghily, Hosseini, Pouladi - Teymourian, Nekounam, Jabbari (65' Ansarifard) - Meydavoudi (46' Mahini), Ghazi (73' Rezaei), Khalatbari
Goals:
1-0 Hosseini (22' / assist by Jabbari)
2-0 Jabbari (34' / Meydavoudi)
3-0 Aghily (42' / Teymourian)
4-0 Teymourian (61' / Nekounam)
5-0 Ansarifard (75' / Teymourian)
6-0 Rezaei (83' / Heydari)