Tasnim – Iran national football team defeated Sierra Leone 4-0 on Saturday in a warm-up match as part of preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.


Iran coach Carlos Queiroz fielded the young players against the underdog African team in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh opened the visiting team’s goal just 14 minutes into the match and Ali Gholizadeh found the back of the net three minutes later.

Kaveh Rezaei scored Team Melli’s third goal 10 minutes before the break.

Gholizadeh saw himself on the scoreboard once again in the 47th minute.

The friendly was Team Melli’s first 2018 World Cup warm-up encounter and the first time it faces the West Africa side in an international match.

Iran will open the 2018 World Cup with a match against Morocco on June 15 in Group B and play Spain and Portugal on June 20th and 25th.