Four Iranians Nominated for AFC International Player of Week
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Four Iranian players were nominated for the AFC International Player of the Week.
The players have been shortlisted based on their performances from January 6 to 13.
Mehdi Taremi (FC Porto, Iran)
77 minutes, 2 goals, 9 duels won (4-1 v Famalicão)
120 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 interceptions (4-2 a.e.t. v Nacional)
Iranian striker Taremi was a regular fixture in this poll in the final months of 2020, but it’s unlikely any of those inclusions followed a better week of football than the one he has just completed.
A league brace against Famalicão was impressive in itself, but he followed up by providing the 88th-minute assist which kept FC Porto in the Portuguese Cup, then scoring the fourth and final goal himself in extra-time.
Saman Ghoddos (Brentford, Iran)
90 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 79% pass accuracy (2-1 v Middlesbrough)
Iranian international Saman Ghoddos makes his first appearance in this poll after helping Brentford to an FA Cup Third Round win over Middlesbrough.
The on-loan Team Melli forward made the most of a rare start to score and assist, registering his first goal for the Bees at the 19th attempt.
Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi, Iran)
90 minutes, 2 assists, 6 successful dribbles (2-3 v KV Oostende)
One of Asia’s increasingly prominent Belgian contingent, Gholizadeh continued his terrific season with a pair of superb assists for Charleroi.
Despite the Iranian’s contribution, and a run of form which has seen him directly involved in four goals in his last four matches, Charleroi’s defeat means they are now nine points adrift of leaders Club Brugge.
Shahriar Moghanlou (Santa Clara, Iran)
90 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist, 85% aerial duels won (2-1 v Moreirense)
A new face in this poll, Shahriar Moghanlou added his name to the ever-expanding list of Iranian players scoring goals in European football with a match-winning Portuguese Cup performance for Santa Clara.
The towering striker caused all sorts of problems for Moreirense, outjumping the opposing goalkeeper Mateus Pasinato to nod home the 97th-minute winner.
