India succumbed to a 4-0 defeat in the penultimate game of their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran. The Blue Tigers kept things tight at the back for most of the first half but a rash tackle inside the box allowed Ehsan Hajsafi to put the Iranians on the scoresheet before half-time. Sardar Azmoun extended Iran’s advantage near the hour mark before Hajsafi’s second of the night and an Alireza Jahanbakhsh strike in the 78th minute made it 4-0 in favour of the Iranians.

The hosts made a positive start to the game with Azmoun forcing Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh into a save inside the opening 10 minutes. It was a busy day for the Indian custodian who was forced into saves again in the 17th and 23rd minutes as he looked to keep the Iranians at bay.

However, a Bikash Jairu tackle inside the box in the 32nd minute led to a penalty and offered Iran the perfect opportunity to stamp their authority. Hajsafi stepped up calmly and sent Gurpreet the wrong way to hand his side the advantage going into the break.

The goal added impetus to Iran’s game as Saeid Ezatolahi effortlessly dribbled past India’s backline and rifled in a stinging effort, which Gurpeet managed to keep out of goal as India went into the half-time interval just a goal down.

It was only a matter of time before Iran added to their lead. They did that in the 61st minute when a Hajsafi corner was bundled over the goal-line by Azmoun, who managed to prod the ball into the back of the net after controlling it with his thigh to give Iran a 2-0 lead.

Iran then received another penalty five minutes later when Narayan Das was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty box while trying to clear with his head. Hajsafi, this time, chose power over placement as he smashed the penalty kick past Gurpreet to make it 3-0.

India did try to force their way back into the game and Sandesh Jhingan could have pulled one back for the Blue Tigers had he managed to get in a stronger header from Das’ free-kick in the 70th minute.

Iran, on the other hand, had no such issues finding the target as demonstrated by Jahanbakhsh in the 78th minute when he cut in from the right flank and thumped in their fourth of the night.

India continue to occupy fifth spot in the group after capturing three points courtesy of a 1-0 win against Guam in India. They will end their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on March 29 when they host Turkmenistan in Kochi.