Doha Asian Games: Iran in control with 2-1 win over Hong Kong

AFC - Two-time defending champions Iran posted their second straight win after defeating Hong Kong 2-1 to establish control over Group D in the Doha Asian Games men’s football competition on Sunday.

Also winning and going top of Groups E and F were China, who handed out a 3-1 mauling to Malaysia, and Japan who edged Syria by a solitary goal.

On the mark for Iran were Mazyar Zare (39) and Arash Borhani (64) after Hong Kong had taken an early eighth minute lead through Sham Kwok Keung.

In the other Group D game, India beat Maldives 2-1. Subhas Chakravarty scored a last-gasp winner after Irungbam Singh’s 34th minute opener was cancelled by Ali Ashfaq four minutes later. India are in second place behind Iran with four points.

Zhou Haibin, Gao Lin and Feng Xiaoling bulged the net for China while Jaafar Mohamed pulled one back for the losers. Iraq ran two goals without reply past Oman in the other group match to collect their first points.

Sota Hirayama’s 76th minute strike was enough for Japan to see off Syria while DPR Korea had Kim Chol Ho on target in their solitary goal win over Pakistan. Japan are on six points from two wins while DPR Korea are two further back.