Iran thrash Yemen 5-0, South Korea down Philippines 1-0

Asian Cup wrap: Iran put on a flawless display as Yemen fell victim to their champagne football, while fellow tournament favourites South Korea only managed to put one past Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Philippines.

Sardar Azmoun helped Iran down Yemen 5-0.

Iran put on a flawless display as Yemen fell victim to their champagne football.

Meanwhile, fellow tournament favourites South Korea only managed to put one past Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Philippines.

Here’s a wrap of all the Asian Cup action!

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IRAN 5-0 YEMEN

Mehdi Taremi scored twice as Iran crushed Yemen 5-0 in the war-torn country’s Asian Cup debut on Monday to send a message to their title rivals.

Iran took just 12 minutes to take the lead as Taremi finished clinically from close range after a shot from Sardar Azmoun was fumbled by Yemen keeper Saud Alsowadi.

Captain Ashkan Dejagah doubled his side’s lead in the 23rd minute with a low free kick which cannoned in off the post and the hapless Alsowadi before Taremi powered home a header moments later.

Azmoun tapped in a fourth goal seven minutes into the second half, by which time Iran were playing some champagne football, pulling off extravagant flicks and backheels that left Yemen’s players chasing shadows.

When substitute Saman Ghoddos volleyed home Iran’s fifth from the edge of the box after 78 minutes the Yemen players looked physically shattered.

Talismanic skipper Ashkan Dejagah was instrumental in guiding his team to victory.

Saman Ghoddos celebrates after scoring the fifth and final goal.

SOUTH KOREA 1-0 PHILIPPINES

Another coaching heavyweight, Sven-Goran Eriksson, lost his opening match of the Asian Cup when South Korea defeated the Philippines 1-0 in Dubai in the other Group C game.

The Philippines had only 18 percent possession against the 2015 Asian Cup runner-up but managed to hold firm until the 67th minute. With forward Son Heung-min absent, Hwang Ui-jo scored the lone goal for South Korea.

The in-form Son is still with his Tottenham club for one more English Premier League match against Manchester United on Sunday before joining South Korea. He could be away for up to five of Tottenham’s matches in all competitions if South Korea reaches the final on Feb. 1 in Abu Dhabi.

South Korea reached the final at the previous Asian Cup.

Hwang Ui-Jo netted the only goal of the game.

CHINA 2-1 KYRGYZSTAN

With coach Marcello Lippi in charge and the team needing a bit of help from an own-goal, China came from behind to beat Kyrgyzstan 2-1 at the Asian Cup on Monday.

The Chinese entered the Asian Cup with one win in seven games, including draws against Palestine, India, and Bahrain. It didn’t look much better at the start of Monday’s match.

Akhlidin Israilov gave Kyrgyzstan the lead with a low left-foot shot from outside the box just before halftime.

But five minutes into the second half, Kyrgyzstan goalkeeper Pavel Matiash jumped to handle what seemed to be an easy catch following a corner kick. He was under no pressure with two of his teammates around him, but the ball went into the net off his gloves.

Yu Dabao then angled in a left-footer in the 78th minute to ensure the fourth straight victory for China in its Asian Cup opening game and improve its record against Kyrgyzstan to 3-0.

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China's defender Yu Dabao bagged the winner for Marcello Lippi’s side.

Originally published as Iran thrash Yemen 5-0, South Korea down Philippines 1-0