Turkey beats Iran 2-1 in friendly game as teams meet after more than four decades

ANKARA

Turkey defeated Iran 2-1 in an international friendly match on the evening of May 28 in Istanbul. 

The match in Istanbul’s Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium saw the two countries meet with each other for the first time in 44 years.

While the majority of the spectators were Iranians, the first two goals came from Everton’s Turkish striker Cenk Tosun, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

In the 90th minute of the match, Iran was awarded a penalty kick when Turkey’s defender Ömer Bayram blocked the shot with his hand in desperation, and was eventually sent off.

Iran’s Ashkan Dejagah — who plays for Nottingham Forest in England’s Championship Division — converted the penalty kick to make the score 2-1.