PLDC - In the final of the Al Ain tournament in the UAE, the Iranian national football team endured yet another frustrating defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan. After 90 minutes of goalless football, including a red card for the Uzbek side, Iran still failed to clinch victory—and ultimately fell short in the penalty shootout.
At the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Iran and Uzbekistan played out a tight first half where few clear scoring chances emerged. Iran’s best moment came when a corner by Saman Ghodos found the head of Majid Hosseini, but the effort sailed wide in the 33rd minute. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan suffered a setback when defender Khusanov was sent off in the 69th minute, offering Iran a numerical advantage. Yet, despite this opening, Iran could not break through a disciplined Uzbek defence.
The penalty shoot-out proved to be Iran’s undoing. While Alireza Beiranvand saved one spot-kick, two vital penalties—taken by Mehdi Mahmoudi and Milad Mohammadi—were missed, enabling Uzbekistan to seal a 4–3 victory from the spot.
For Iran Coach Amir Ghalenoei and his squad, the result echoes a familiar pattern: dominance in regular play but an inability to convert pressure into goals when it matters most. With the tournament over and a celebratory crown missed, the team turns its attention to the next challenge—tightening their mindset and finishing in critical matches.
