AFC U-23 Championship Thailand 2020 Qualifiers: Iran Beats Turkmenistan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran defeated Turkmenistan 3-1 at the AFC U-23 Championship Thailand 2020 Qualifiers on Friday.
In the 35th minute, Turkmenistan defender Shazada Bashimov made a defensive mistake, giving Iran the lead at the Azadi Stadium.
Omid Noorafkan made it 2-0 in the 54th minute.
Bagtyyar Gurgenov found the back of the net in the 74th minute to reduce deficit but substitute Reza Jabireh was on target in the added time to secure a 3-1 win for Iran.
Zlatko Kranjcar’s team will face Yemen and Iraq on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.
The Qualifiers will see 43 teams jostling for 15 spots to next January's Finals, which will also serve as the qualifying round for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
With Japan having confirmed its Olympic berth by virtue of being the host, three spots will be up for grabs in the AFC U-23 Championship Thailand 2020.
Iran has not qualified for the Olympic Games since 1976 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.