Iran ready for Iraq after beating Vietnam

Sardar Azmoun celebrates scoring the second goal in Iran's victory over Vietnam. (AFP)
  • Sardar Azmoun at the double as Team Melli continue impressive start.
  • Carlos Queiroz's team to face Iraq on Wednesday to decide which team will top the group.

ABU DHABI: Sardar Azmoun struck twice as Iran sank Vietnam 2-0 to reach the last 16 of the Asian Cup and set a new group-stage win record.
Iran, looking to end a 43-year title drought since last winning Asian football鈥檚 most coveted prize, could have scored four or five but for some poor finishing in Abu Dhabi.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pity our performance didn鈥檛 produce a couple more goals,鈥� Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said. 鈥淏ut winning is the best medicine in football. To win two games and score seven goals 鈥� I have to praise my players because I am very demanding.鈥�
Saman Ghoddos and Mehdi Taremi went close for Asia鈥檚 top-ranked team before Azmoun rose to head home a Ghoddos cross after 38 minutes.
The Rubin Kazan forward lashed in his third goal of the tournament from the edge of the box 20 minutes from time to give Iran a ninth successive first-round victory dating back to 2007.
Co-favourites with South Korea to lift the Asian Cup, Iran crushed war-torn Yemen 5-0 in their opening Group D game.
They were indebted to goalkeeper Alireza Safar Beiranvand for a courageous save from Nguyen Cong Phuong but were barely ruffled by the southeast Asian champions.
鈥淲e just need to relax more,鈥� said Queiroz. 鈥淲e were anxious going after the third goal, but that final touch will come. Now we must think, feel, eat, drink, do everything to be focused on Iraq.鈥�