TEHRAN – Iran U23 football team defeated Iraq U23 team 1-0 in a friendly match Tuesday night in Baghdad.

Aria Yousefi scored the solitary goal of the match in the 12th minute.

Iran are scheduled to meet Iraq once again on Friday.

Mehdi Mahdavikia’s team played the friendly as part of preparation for the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup.

The fifth edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup will be played in Central Asia for the first time, with Uzbekistan hosting 32 matches across the cities of Tashkent and Karshi.

Iran are pitted against hosts Uzbekistan, Qatar and newcomers Turkmenistan in Group A.