Two Iranians Nominated for AFC International Player of Week
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Mehdi Taremi and Reza Asadi from Iran were shortlisted for the AFC International Player of the Week.
With seasons coming to a close across Europe it was the last hurrah for many of Asia’s overseas stars, and several of the continent’s biggest names went out with a bang.
Mehdi Taremi (FC Porto, Iran)
64 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 shot assists (4-0 Belenenses)
It was a fitting way to end an excellent season for Taremi, who scored the opener and set up another as FC Porto eased to a 4-0 win, which sealed second place in Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
Taremi’s 16 league goals were good enough for third on the league scoring charts. The Iranian forward netted 23 in all competitions.
Reza Asadi (SKN St. Pölten, Iran)
90 minutes, 89% pass accuracy, 93% duels won, 14 recoveries (0-1 v Hartberg)
It was a season to forget for Asadi’s St. Pölten, who suffered relegation from the Austrian Bundesliga, but he ended it in style with a dominant defensive display against seventh-placed Hartberg.
The former FC Tractor man regained possession 14 times and won a staggering 93% of duels, making the most of his first league start for the club.
The Iranian duo will have to compete with Eldor Shomurodov (Genoa CFC, Uzbekistan), Maya Yoshida (Sampdoria, Japan), Lee Kang-in (Valencia, Korea Republic), Ritsu Doan (Arminia Bielefeld, Japan), Jeong Woo-yeong (SC Freiburg, Korea Republic), Sam Kerr (Chelsea FC, Australia), Clare Polkinghorne (Vittsjö GIK, Australia) and Junya Ito (KRC Genk, Japan) to win the accolade.