Russian embassy team wins SCO football cup in Beijing

The Russian team beat Iran 5-1 in the diplomatic tournament final on October 11. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation secretariat confirmed the competition's winner.

Iran opened the scoring and remained ahead at halftime. Russia equalised in the second half before adding four more goals, according to RIA Novosti's correspondent at the match.

The cup took place on October 10-11 at the Russian embassy's football ground in China to mark the SCO's 25th anniversary. Teams included diplomats, diplomatic mission staff, schoolchildren and students. This was a diplomatic tournament rather than a match between national football teams.

Russia defeated Uzbekistan in its semifinal, while Iran beat China. Group matches consisted of two ten-minute halves without a break. The final used two halves of 20 minutes each.

Eight teams competed, representing Russia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, China's Foreign Ministry and a combined SCO side. Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev attended the final and award ceremony alongside Russian Ambassador Igor Morgulov and Iranian Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli.