Sierra Leone suffered a 4-0 defeat against Iran in friendly played on Saturday night away in Tehran.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz fielded the young players against Leone Stars in Azadi Stadium for the tie that was earlier in doubt due to ongoing wrangles within Sierra Leone football body.

Goals started coming on the 15th minute in a proof of just how the team lacks ability to defend in early stages against a tough opposition.

Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh opened the scoring from a powerful close range shot and two minutes later Ali Gholizadeh made it 2-0 with a long range shot that the keeper absolutely should have kept out.

Kaveh Rezaei was on target in the 35th minute with a header into the six yard and Gholizadeh scored for the second time just two minutes into the second half.

Sierra Leone coach preferred a one man attack led by Ibrahim Bangula, who was playing his second match at this level and he did not give his markers much trouble.

Ibrahim Tarawally back in the team was brilliant in goal as he denied the home side some clear chances in last minutes of the match. The first real chance for Stars was from Abu Kanu with a feeble shot inside last twenty minutes.

For long it remained the only chance for Stars who were lucky not to concede more goals in a match that the World Cup bound Iran proved too strong for the African side.

The friendly was Team Melli’s first 2018 World Cup warm-up encounter and the first time it faces the West Africa side in an international match.

Iran will open the 2018 World Cup with a match against Morocco on June 15 in Group B and play Spain and Portugal on June 20th and 25th.