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Back-from-retirement Sardar Azmoun fired Iran into the Asian Cup knockout phase on Saturday as Carloz Queiroz's side were joined by arch-rivals Iraq and fellow former winners Saudi Arabia in the last 16. Azmoun, 24, quit the national team after fans rounded oWatch: Iraq, Iran, Saudis power to Asian Cup last 16
Back-from-retirement Sardar Azmoun fired Iran into the Asian Cup knockout phase on Saturday as Carloz Queiroz's side were joined by arch-rivals Iraq and fellow former winners Saudi Arabia in the last 16. Azmoun, 24, quit the national team after fans rounded on him following Iran's exit at last year's World Cup, but he was the toast of Tehran once again with both goals in a 2-0 win over Vietnam. Saudi Arabia, who like Iran are three-time former winners of the Asian showpiece, beat Lebanon 2-0, while teenager Mohanad Ali inspired 2007 champions Iraq to a 3-0 win over Yemen. Iran, Iraq and Saudi, with seven titles between them, joined already qualified South Korea, China and Jordan as the round of 16 began to take shape. Queiroz singled out Azmoun after the Rubin Kazan forward's double made him the tournament's top scorer with three goals, and gave Iran a record ninth successive first-round victory. «He's a finisher,» said the Portuguese, now in his eighth year as Iran coach. «We have high hopes for him for this competition. But the way the team is contributing around him, and our movement in the last third, are very interesting.» Iran, looking to end a 43-year title drought since... Read more