AFC - Islamic Republic of Iran made a winning start to their Group A campaign in the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 on Thursday as Amir Ghaleneoi’s side handed Kyrgyz Republic a 1-0 defeat at Foolad Shahr Stadium.
Captain Mehdi Taremi hit the only goal of the game 11 minutes before the end of the first half while Omid Noorafkan went close to adding a second when his strike came back off the Kyrgyz post in the 58th minute.
The Iranians were made to battle for the win due to an improved performance in the second half by the visitors after the hosts had dictated proceedings in the opening 45 minutes.
Erzhan Tokotaev was on hand in the early exchanges to snuff out an opening that feel to Sardar Azmoun, the Iranian striker seeing his shot blocked by the Kyrgyz goalkeeper at close range.
The Iranians dictated the tempo of the game and spent much of the opening quarter deep in Kyrgyz territory but Alireza Beiranvand had to be alert when Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov launched a goal-bound strike from deep inside his own half.
Beiranvand raced back to push the ball away from goal and, from the corner conceded, Kyrgyz Republic threatened again but Joel Kojo’s header gave the home goalkeeper few concerns.
It was from a Tokotaev error in the 34th minute that the Iranians took the lead, the goalkeeper spilling Omid Noorafkan’s bobbling effort from distance into the path of Taremi and the Inter Milan striker calmly rolled the ball home.
The hosts should have had a second on the stroke of halftime, with Taremi involved again.
This time the forward took on the role of provider, pulling the ball back towards the penalty spot after being played behind the Kyrgyz defence but Ali Gholizadeh thumped his shot wildly over the bar from eight yards.
Beiranvand had to be at his sharpest as the game approached the hour when Kayrat Zhyrgalbek let fly from 30 yards, forcing the Persepolis goalkeeper to dive to his left to keep the well-struck shot from registering.
Moments later the Iranians rattled the Kyrgyz woodwork, Noorafkan’s left-foot shot from outside the area emerging through the defence to hit Tokotaev’s right post before bouncing clear.
Kojo tested Beiranvand with five minutes remaining but the Iranians held on to pick up the three points.