PFDC - BEIJING, Iran managed to grab the third place of the 2004 Asian Cup, beating the strong Bahrain by 4-2. Best players on the pitch were the oustanding Karimi and striker Ali Daei, the skipper scoring a brace and booking one assist.

Bahrain should have the first chance of the match, as after only a few seconds playing time, Salman tried his luck from left wing, but Mirzapour was alert. Iran, having switched back to the initial 4-2-3-1 system after facing yet another ridiculous suspension defender Taghipour suddenly being declared uneligible to play due to an incident having occured months ago in AFC Champions League - took the lead after 10 minutes. Veteran striker Daei got hold of the ball inside the box after a bad mistake in Bahrain's defense, left the ball over for Nekounam, who found the net to make it 1-0.

The tragic figure of the penalty shootout in semifinals, Yahya Golmohamadi, then should have doubled the lead in minute 27, when he suddenly found himself one on one with Bahrain's keeper Karim following a Karimi through-ball, but Karim was able to tip the ball away, when Golmohamadi tried to curve around him. Short before halftime, the once more outstanding Karimi started a solo run, his square ball finally ending up in front of Daei, whose shot eventually was defelected to a corner.

But also Bahrain showed a pleasing performance in an entertaining first half, having several shots on goal, all saved by Iran's number one Ebrahim Mirzapour or going wide.

Second half started with a blow for the Iranian team, when Salmeen won a freekick in good position, and Talal perfectly curled it into the net - right into the up to then in this tournament mistakeless Mirzapour's corner. But only four minutes later, Mahdavikia found Karimi in the box, the probably best player of this tournament perfecltly lobbing it over Karim to put Iran in front again. It was Karimi's fifth goal of the tournament, putting him on top of the goalscorer chart, together with Bahrain's Hubail.

In minute 55, substitute Borhani almost increased the lead, but had to see his shot from tight angle being saved. The ball finally found it's way into the net after a short confusion, but referee Al Marzouqui had seen a foul ahead of that, disallowing the goal.

Just two minutes later Hubail, who after a punch against an Uzbek player in quarterfinal should have been banned for the rest of the tournament, produced a great header, which Mirzapour could save, however, after another confusion, Farhan equaled the scoreline again. It was then again Iran's turn, but Daei's header went over the bar and Borhani, put through by Mahdavikia, couldn't trouble Karim from inside the box.

Iran then suffered another blow, like often before in this Asian Cup when Borhani was sent off for a hard tackling in midfield. But still the brave Iranians kept the upper hand, Karimi finding Mahdavikia inside the area on 75 minutes, but the Hamburg winger being denied by Karim.

But the magical Karimi once more was unstoppable with legal manners, 10 minutes from time, just being stopped by a foul inside the box. Ali Daei stepped up to take the responsibility, and converted from the spot. Ten minutes later, skipper Daei put Iran's victory out of doubt, when Mahdavikia forced his way into the box from left side, finding the big old man of Iranian football in center, who scored his third goal of the tournament to make it 4-2. It was Mahdavikia's 8th assist in his sixth 2004 Asian Cup Match.

The star player, however, was sent off together with Bahrain's Talal a few minutes later, following a big skrimmage on field. Talal had brutally tackled down Daei from behind, to the anger of the Iranian fans and players, leading to those ugly scenes on the field. The reasons for Mahdavikia's suspension, unguilty of any illegal action as TV pictures prove, remain a mistery, being just another scandalous referee call in this Asian Cup.

The Iranian Team then, applouded by the approximately 200 Iranian fans, received their medals for third place, a satisfying result in a tournament that with a bit of luck could have been won by Iran.

Iran's headcoach Branko Ivankovic then showed very happy and pleased about grabbing the third place, especially after such a tough match against a strong Bahrain Team. The Croation congratulated his players for the really tough fight. Asked about Ali Daei, he pointed out the importance of this "leading figure, who also is an excellent player with great enthusiasm and will", however, adding that he doesn't know how long Iran will still be able to rely on him, a decision alone Daei has to make.

But Ivankovic might well part with Iran, as recent reports in international media had indicated. "You know my contract will be over in less than two months. I have plans for my future, and one of them is coaching a club team",the former assistant of Miroslav Blazevic announced in the post match press conference. Ivankovic also made clear though, he has not yet made a final decision on this matter.

Both Ivankovic and Bahrain's Juricic, formerly Karimi's coach at Al Ahly, then praised the Iranian playmaker. While Ivankovic saw Karimi as "best and most terrific player of this tournament", Juricic had no doubts about the 26-year-old, who in his eyes once more decided the match today, having the capability to play his club football in Europe.

Iran - Bahrain 4-2 (1-0)

Asian Cup 2004 Third Place Match, Workers Stadium, Beijing

Attendance: 10.000

Goals: 1-0 Nekounam (10') 1-1 Talal (48') 2-1 Karimi (52') 2-2 Farhan (58') 3-2 Daei (80'/Pen.) 4-2 Daei (90')

Lineups:

Iran: Mirzapour - Kaabi, Kameli, Rezaei, Badavi - Nekounam, Golmohamadi (56' Mobali) - Mahdavikia, Karimi, Enayati (53' Borhani) - Daei

Bahrain: Karim - Mohamed, Baba, Husain - Al Kawari (86' Ali), Salmeen, Farhan, Talal, Salman - Naser (60' Rashid), Hubail

Bookings: Kameli, Kaabi, Rezaei - Mohamed

Suspensions: Borhani (72'), Mahdavikia (95') - Talal (95')