USA falls to Iran on criteria, goes 1-1 on first day of World Cup
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by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
Yakutsk, Russia – The United States fell in its second-round matchup in pool play action of the 2019 World Cup, losing to Iran on criteria, 5-5. Iran held the edge on classification points, 21-18.
After a strong second period, Zach Sanders dropped a close 4-3 match against Alirez Sarlak to start the dual at 57 kg.
However, National Team member Nico Megaludis put up a strong showing at 61 kg, blanking two-time Junior World champion Iman Sadeghikoukandeh, 12-0. It was Megaludis’ second technical fall victory of the day.
2017 Senior World Team member and 2012 Cadet World champion Zain Retherford gave the USA a boost with a solid 6-1 win against Morteza Ghiasi Cheka in the 65 kg match.
Iran won at 70 kg, before the USA picked up back-to-back wins, coming from Isaiah Martinez and Tommy Gantt.
Martinez, a 2017 U23 World Team member and Final X runner-up, picked off two-time University World champion Reza Afzalipaemami with an 8-2 win at 74 kg, and Gantt scored three takedowns on 2015 Cadet World bronze medalist Mojtaba Asghari Osmavandani for an 11-6 decision at 79 kg.
Iran won three of the next four bouts—86 kg, 97 kg and 125 kg.
At 92 kg, multiple-time freestyle and Greco-Roman National Team member Hayden Zillmer produced a late takedown and turn for a 6-4 win over 2012 Junior World champion and 2016 University World champion Mohammad Ebrahimizivlaei.
With the dual tied at five wins apiece, the deciding factor was classification points. Iran gained the edge with a fall at 86 kg as well as scoring points in losses.
Finishing the day 1-1, the U.S. has one more dual in pool play, where it will take on Mongolia on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET to determine its spot in the placement duals. Fans can watch live on Trackwrestling.
Iran def. USA, 5-5 (21-18)
57 kg: Alireza Sarlak (Iran) dec. Zach Sanders (USA), 4-3
61 kg: Nico Megaludis (USA) TF Iman Sadeghikoukandeh (Iran), 12-0
65 kg: Zain Retherford (USA) dec. Morteza Ghiasi Cheka (Iran), 6-1
70 kg: Meisam Nasiri (Iran) dec. Jason Chamberlain (USA), 3-0
74 kg: Isaiah Martinez (USA) dec. Reza Afzalipaemami (Iran), 8-2
79 kg: Tommy Gantt (USA) dec. Mojtaba Asghari Osmavandani (Iran), 11-6
86 kg: Mersad Marghzari (Iran) fall Sam Brooks (USA)
92 kg: Hayden Zillmer (USA) dec. Mohammadjavad Ebrahimizivlaei (Iran), 6-4
97 kg: Alireza Goodarzi (Iran) dec. Kyven Gadson (USA), 4-0
125 kg: Komeil Ghasemi (Iran) dec. Tony Nelson (USA), 6-2
