Iran secured a 3-1 victory against Australia in the Asian Championship on Friday, maintaining their flawless record at the tournament. The hosts had won every match so far, while Australia came into the fixture with two victories and one defeat from their opening three games.
Iran's consistency was on display once again, having previously beaten Chinese Taipei, China, India and New Zealand in the build-up. Australia had shown similar resilience with wins over Oman and Bahrain, though a heavy 3-0 loss to Japan had interrupted that run.
The result keeps Iran top of the table with nine points from three matches, while Australia remain second with six points. There is now a three-point gap between the two sides, and Iran control their own destiny with one game remaining.
Australia's defeat ends their unbeaten streak in the championship, and the loss means they trail the leaders by a point. The hosts move closer to securing top spot in the group stage.