By N.D. Prashant/Doha

WELL DONE: Iranian players celebrate their win over the UAE yesterday
A second string Iranian side brought down the curtains on UAE’s chances at the Asian Cup by handing them a 3-0 drubbing in their last group ‘D’ fixture at the Qatar Sports Club yesterday.
Arash Afshin and Mohammad Nori scored a goal each and Walid Abbas of the UAE completed the tally for the winners with an own goal in injury time.
Iran are the only team in the tournament to win all their group matches and have collected nine points. They now meet South Korea in the quarters, while second placed Iraq, who defeated North Korea 1-0 yesterday, will take on Australia.
Iran, having already qualified for the last eight as expected, fielded their second string team for their final group outing. In all there were six new players in the start list from the one that played against Iraq and North Korea.
Their opponents, UAE, on the other hand, not only faced a must-win situation but also had to keep their fingers crossed hoping that North Korea beat Iraq by a low margin.Iranian asserted themselves early with defender Farshid Taleb, playing for the first time in the tournament, almost got his foot to a measured through pass off a free-kick from Nori inside the ‘D’ in the second minute.
However, had the goalpost not come in their way, UAE would have shot into the lead in the 14th minute. Midfielder Ismail al-Hammadi put the ball forward for an unmarked Ahmed Khalil, who dribbled past an Iranian defender before seeing his shot from close range find the bottom of the left post.
Three minutes later, an Ismail al-Hammadi cross from the left-flank landed on the foot of Ismaeil Matar after brushing off the head of an Iranian defender. Though Matar had an open goal in front, his first-time shot was nowhere near the target.
Another opportunity went abegging in the 23rd minute when an unmarked Ahmed Khalil failed to nod home a brilliant curling cross from the left by Khalid
Iran almost came close to scoring in the 29th minute but a powerpacked volley from Mohammad Gholami from top of the box lacked direction.
In the 44th minute, a grounder from Matar from the left corner of the box, off a Hamdan al-Kamali long ball, went just wide of the far post. Things became more difficult for the UAE with the news out that Iraq were leading by a goal at half-time at the Al Rayyan Stadium.
After the change of ends, UAE custodian Majed Naser came up with a brilliant diving save to his right to thwart a left-footed attempt from Iran’s Ghasem Hadadifar. Iran finally got the breakthrough in the 69th minute through their forward Afshin. The striker slotted the ball home after two back-to-back headers from Gholami off a cross from substitute Gholam Reza Rezaei found the framework.
Afshin, however, was sent off after he pocketed his second yellow card in the 75th minute following a challenge on UAE goalie Naser.
Minutes later, UAE were also reduced to 10 men after Khalel Sabel was given the marching orders for a foul on Iran’s Hadadifar. 
Iran then got their second goal in the 83rd minute after Nori played a give and take with Khosro Heidari before finding the right corner of the goal with a neat placement.
In the injury time, another deft run down the centre from Rezaei forced the third goal for Iran. Rezaei was running shoulder-to-shoulder with UAE defender Abbass and the latter, in the desperation to clear the danger, ended up slotting the ball into his own goal.
Iran’s coach Afshin Ghotbi was thrilled. “Very happy with the performance of the players as we had many players playing their first official international match for Iran and it was wonderful to give them this opportunity,” he said.
“We showed quality in the second half and this victory like all wins is vital for the team. I’m also happy to go to the second stage with the perfect record of three wins in three matches.”