Iran hammers underdog Jamaica in warm-up

MNA – The Asian powerhouse Iran thrashed Jamaica 8-1 in a football friendly here Monday.

The goal spree started 40 seconds after the kickoff and ended seconds from the stoppage time.

Playing before some 10,000 fans in the Azadi Stadium, Spain’s Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekunam took the lead for Iran, heading home a corner.

The second came in the second minute through midfielder Mehrzad Ma’danchi, whose 30-yard drive found the visitor’s net.

Nekunam, chosen in La Liga’s revelation squad, celebrated his double and Iran’s third on 17 minutes, sending in a rebound from close range.

Bundesliga-bound striker Vahid Hashemian drilled in a Massud Shojaii cross with a point-blank header to send the two sides to the locker room with a 4-0 result.

Jamaica was forced to take the ball out of net four minutes into second half, when Ma’danchi receiving a pass from skipper Mehdi Mahdavikia side-footed in.

Substitute Rassul Khatibi struck two in the 81st and 88th minutes and sub Gholamreza Enayati completed the Jamaica rout in the dying moments.

Jamaica scored its consolation goal on 84 minutes.

The Iranian team will fly to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur Wednesday to play in the preliminary round of the 14th Asian Cup.

Iran has been drawn with Malaysia, China, and Uzbekistan in Group C.