Iran 4-1 Palestine: summary, score, goals, highlights | AFC Asian Cup 2023
Iran - Palestine: AFC Asian Cup, how it happened
FT: Iran 4-1 Palestine
Iran convince with opening day win over Palestine as Team Melli brush the Lions of Canaan aside to top Group C.
The whistle sounds in Doha and it's a professional performance from Iran.
Saleh gets a let off and that is fine referring from the Qatari official.
Just a yellow for the defender.
VAR is going to be looked at as the ref wants a second opinion.
A possible lifeline for Saleh and Palestine.
Straight red for Palestine as Mohammed Saleh commits a professional foul and the ref has no hesitation and the side from the Middle East are down to ten men.
We'll have five minutes of added time.
Final change for Iran
Ghoddos off and Omid his replacement.
Fine turn and shot from Taremi as he forces a fine save from Rami Hamadeh.
The clock just ticking down now in Education City.
Into the final five minutes of the contest.
Iran have been solid with their game management and never batted an eyelid despite the late goal from Palestine at the end of the first half.
Another change imminent for Palestine as Samer Zubaida is poised to make an entrance as Seyam is his replacement.
Change for Iran as Sadegh Moharrami us replaced by Ramin Rezaeian
The game opens up now as tired legs take their toll on the action.
Into the final ten minutes of action.
Much better second half from Palestine after a nervy opening in the first half.
Palestine almost find a second as they play in a more positive frame and the ball zips across the Iran goal.
27,691 fans present at Education City tonight.
Great chance for Palestine and fine defending from Iran manage to keep the men in red at bay.
Iran ahead 3-2 in terms of corner kicks.
Decent long range strike as Beiranvand is forced to save well, the ball breaks to the other box and Iran almost bag a fifth.
With this result, Iran will top Group C tonight.
Earlier today, the UAE beat Hong Kong by a 3-1 scoreline.
Oday Dabbagh replaces Shihab Qumbor, the second Palestine switch
Alaa Aladdin Hassan replaces Zeid Qunbar for Palestine
Free for Palestine which comes to nothing as the side from the Middle East prepare another series of changes.
Iran's performance will be keenly followed by the likes of Japan, Australia, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia and the other heavyweights in action at the Asian Cup.
Possession after an hour
Iran 63-37 Palestine (%)
We've played an hour of the Group C opener for both Palestine and Iran and barring a major calamity, the points will be heading the way of Team Melli.
The defending from Palestine was poor again with Iran able to cut through the men in red with relative ease.
Goal for Iran and Azmoun gets the goal.
A little scrappy as the AS Roma man was alert to slot home.
Decent save from the keeper who spills the ball back into open play and Azmoun reacted quickly.
Saeid Ezatolahi takes and screws the ball wide.
Qunbar carded as Iran win a free on the edge of the Palestine box.
Iran laying siege to the Palestine goal in the opening minutes of the second half.
FC Porto's Taremi will be anxious to get his name on the scoresheet tonight.
Iran changes: Azmoun and Mohebi enter the fray with both goal scorers Ansarifard and Ghayedi making way.
Palestine changes as Mohammed Saleh replaces Yaser Hamed and Mohammed Khalil taking the place of Camilo Saldaña.
Off we go in Doha again.
We've had a series of changes for both sides at the break.
All set for the second 45.
A minor setback for Team Melli with that late Palestine goal but good for the game as a spectacle.
The whistle sounds and that's the end of the first 45'.
Tamer Seyam pops up at the back post to nod a breaking ball home and offer a sliver of hope for the side in red.
Into the final minute if the added six...
It's been a procession for Iran who are looking to add to their three Asian Cup wins but the last of the three coming back in 1976.
Couple of Palestine players warming up on the touchline wearing a distinctive track top featuring the national flag.
The first 45' has been riddled with stoppages from injury.
Palestine a very physical side and not shying away from a rugged challenge or two.
We'll have an additional six minutes to play at the end of the first half.
One minute to go at Education City.
Iran really bossing things here with Palestine still yet to trouble the Iran keeper.
Shojae Khalilzadeh limps from the field and that will be the end of his action at Education City tonight.
Majid Hosseini his replacement.
Palestine getting sloppy now as Tamer Seyam pulls a Iran player back.
Into the final five of the half and Iran really are setting down a marker to their opponents at the Asian Cup tonight.
Camilo Saldaña carded for a lunge
That's three ....
Mehdi Ghayedi with a fine team goal and the finish from the No. 18 was excellent as the striker tucks home for the third.
Shojae Khalilzadeh seems to be struggling with debate on the Iran bench over the player carrying on... the second goal scorer is limping badly.
Palestine win a corner and the past 10 minutes or so has been good for the men in red as they respond well to the adversity of going behind in the first minute or so.
Kanani gets clipped and needs attention from the Iran medics.
A muscular issue in the groin area seems to be the problem for the Iran defender.
First corner of the night goes the way of Team Melli.
Taremi showing his class in earning the dead ball kick.
As we approach the half hour mark, Palestine have yet to muster a shot on or off target.
Iran are totally in control.
Palestine keeper Hamedeh throws the ball out and seems to have sustained an injury.
The medics are on the pitch and the stopper seems to be okay to carry on.
Iran pressing Palestine high and offering the defenders no time on the ball.
One senses that the bulk of the fans at Education City tonight are supporting the men in red.
Possession
Iran 52-48 Palestine (%)
Palestine seem to have weathered the storm from the two opening goals and now and try and take the game to Iran.
The Iranian defenders look composed and offering nothing to the side in red.
Kanani handles and is awarded a card by the Qatari official.
Quarter of an hour gone and Palestine being outclassed by the side in white.
This, undoubtedly will be the toughest Group C test for the Lions of Canaan.
Iran make it two.
Khalilzadeh unmarked at the back post, slotting home from close range after a sweet free kick from Ghoddos.
Michel Termanini carded as he clips Ghoddos.
Palestine really struggling in the early stage of the game.
Mehdi Ghayedi shoots from outside the box but screws the ball wide.
Palestine struggling to get into the Iran half as the game is held up as an Iran player goes to ground (Ezatolahi).
What a way for Karim Ansarifard to celebrate his 101st cap!
Iran take the lead and it's Karim Ansarifard slotting home to give Iran a dream start.
Too much space for the Iranian striker and a major blow for Palestine.
Off we go....
Palestine start the Group C clash.
A final huddle from both sides ...
Iran in all white, Palestine sporting all red tonight.
We'll now have a minute's silence in memory of the dead in Palestine.
The teams are on the pitch and we're just minutes away from the start of the action.
I'd say a 50% attendance level at Education City so roughly 20.000 fans present.
A look at Education City
The 44,000 capacity Education City Stadium will be far from full tonight for the Group C clash but the stadium in the university region of Doha is looking in top condition pre-game.
Iran-Palestine: starting XI reminder
A fresh look at how the team's line up ...
Iran will sport their iconic white kit tonight with Palestine set to debut their new Kelme produced red away kit.
Iran's Group C rivals
After tonight's Group C opening game against Palestine, Team Melli then face Hong Kong before wrapping up the group action facing UAE.
Iran-Palestine: formations
This is how both sides line-up tonight.
Iran opting for a 4-2-3-1 with Ansarifard the target man.
Palestine opt for a 4-4-2 formation.
Iran-Palestine: match official
Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al-Jassim is a Qatari football referee and has been selected by the AFC to oversee tonight's Group C clash in Doha.
Iran vs Palestine - teams confirmed
The teams for tonight's Education City have been confirmed with Iran's Karim Ansarifard set to win his 101st international cap for Team Melli.
UAE record Group C opening win over Hong Kong
The side from the Gulf momentarily top Group C with three points from their opening clash with Iran and UAE highly tipped as the two sides that progress as top two in the group.
Palestine coach Makram Daboub speaks to his players / THAIER AL-SUDANI / REUTERS
Palestinian squad seek first win at Asian Cup
The Palestinian squad at the Asian Cup in Qatar hope to bring honour to their compatriots in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip with their first victory at the tournament since the team's debut in 2015.
Israel has killed more than 23,000 people in its more than three-month-old offensive, according to Palestinian health authorities in the Hamas-ruled enclave.
"For us, the message we are here to deliver through football is to qualify for the second round because Palestine and its people want to live. This is what we can offer," midfielder Oday Kharoub told media pre-game.
The 26-member squad play Asian powerhouse Iran today followed by the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, hoping to advance to the knockout stage
Three time winners looking to address Asian Cup drought
Team Melli have lifted the trophy on three occasions ...1968, 1972 and 1976.
Fans of the Asian giants will be hoping that Amir Ghalenoei's side can address the lack of titles as they kickstart their campaign in Qatar.
Palestine looking to move past group stage
The Lions of Canaan have participated twice at the Asian Cup (2015 and 2019) but on both occasions failed to make it past the group stage and have yet to record a win at the competition.
With 24 teams participating in Qatar and four x third best sides now advancing, Palestine will be hoping to go one better this time in the Gulf.
"Hard for Palestinian players to stay focused at Asian Cup"
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Palestine head coach Makram Daboub admitted that it's difficult for his team to focus on the tournament.
"Keeping focused, honestly, is difficult because most of the time the players are focusing on news after training or before it, even on the bus while going to training," Daboub told reporters ahead of their group opener against Iran on Sunday.
"Everyone is focused on the news and what is happening, but even with that... there is a message that we need to deliver to the whole world. We have a big responsibility that we are the ambassadors for Palestinian soccer, for Palestine.
"The Palestinian people deserve a better life and they deserve freedom. Through the matches, our presence and what we will deliver in this tournament should be a message for the whole world that Palestine exists."
The team's captain Musab Al-Battat said stopping sporting activity in Gaza for the past three months had had negative consequences on the players, who have had training camps outside the region due to the conflict.
He also hoped their presence at the Asian Cup would deliver a message to the world.
"As Palestinian players, we have a message that we can deliver to the whole world and that is the Palestinian team and state is a country like all others that has the right to participate and be part of any tournament anywhere," he said.
"Hopefully all these circumstances will be a positive push for us as players to present the best result because our people truly deserve it and our fans deserve it."
The make-up of the Palestine team
The Palestinian squad hail from 19 towns and villages in Palestine.
Both Team Melli and the Lions of Canaan start their 2023 Asian Cup campaigns in what is undoubtedly set to be a highly charged and emotional affair at Education City.
Iran are one of the tournament favourites and Sunday’s opponents from Palestine have had to prepare in exile using Saudi Arabia and Algeria as Israeli bombs rain down on Gaza on a daily basis.
The Group C action will be played at Education City Stadium on the Doha outskirts on Sunday 14 January 2024.
Kick-off is at 12.30 p.m. ET / 9.30 a.m. PT.
Hello and welcome to our live AFC Asian Cup action as Iran face Palestine in the Group C opening game in Doha (Qatar).