PFDC - TEHRAN, Iran thrashed Lebanon 4-0 in the opening match of the bi-annual WAFF tournament held in Tehran. Iran started the match quite lackluster, and performed much better in the second half. Ali Daei played a great match, as he scored 3 goals and Javad Nekounam also scored one.

Iran came out aggressive and attacking, and went to work immediately. Early in the game, Nekounam got a shot at goal, but his shot was off target as it went wide. Iran kept the pressure on the visitors, as Ali Karimi split two Lebanese defenders in the 10th minute and laid the ball of for Majidi, Majidi was fouled in a dangerous place just outside of the Lebanese box.

Majidi himself took the free kick, which was deflected off the defensive wall. Iran’s pressure eventually paid off in the 15th minute as Kabi made a very nice move and dribbled two Lebanese defenders, and was fouled just inside the penalty box. Daei took the penalty kick and easily converted with a low powerful shot to the right hand side of the goal. The rest of the half went quite eventless as Iran had the upper hand in ball possession and in attacking.

The end of the first half saw another chance for Daei, which was barely missed. Badavi made a nice move on the left wing and dribbled one defender, Badavi then made a nice pass to Daei, Daei shot the ball past the outstretched hands of the Lebanese goalkeeper, but the ball went barely wide of the goal. Iran’s defense was not tested, as Lebanon had very few scoring opportunities in the first half.

In the second half, Iran came out and played much better and more cohesive than in the first half. Early in the second half, Daei passed the ball to an unmarked Mobali on the right wing, Mobali crossed the ball nicely right to Karimi, Karimi’s header hit the bar and went out. Iran maintained the pressure as Daei again gave a nice pass to Kabi across the goalmouth, but Kabi’s shot hit the post again.

Iran’s attacking pressure paid off once again, as a great cross by Mobali found Daei behind the defensive line in the 62nd minute, and Daei had no problems finishing with a powerful header that ricocheted across the post and found the back of the net. Iran kept the pressure on the visitors, as a nice back heal from substitute Reza Enyati found Mobali unmarked again on the right wing, Mobali sent the ball nicely into the box and found substitute Nikbkaht-Vahedi unmarked, but Nikbakht’s header went clear over the bar.

Iran had a handful of corners, and they eventually capitalized in the 80th minute. Mobali played a short corner to Nikbakht-Vahedi, Nikbakht played the ball square to Rezaei, Rezaei took a shot which was deflected by a Lebanese defender and the ball went straight to an unmarked Nekounam in the box, and Nekounam had no problems slotting the ball in the goal from close range.

Lebanon’s best scoring chance came in the 85th minute, as substitute Mohammad Alavi fouled a Lebanese player just outside the Iranian penalty box. The free kick was taken nicely but went straight to Rahmati, Rahmati stopped the ball with some difficulty. Alavi redeemed himself after the foul, as he found an unmarked Daei just inside the Lebanese penalty box in the 88th minute, Daei took a beautiful cutting shot with his left foot that left the Lebanese goalkeeper with no chance, as it went in beautifully.

After scoring his third goal, Daei was still hungry for more, as he took a powerful shot from outside of the penalty box in injury time, but the Lebanese goalkeeper saved the ball nicely and sent it out for a corner kick.

The head coach if Iran, Branko Ivankovic, made some key substitutions and changes at halftime. Branko sent Alavi in for Golmohmmadi, which proved to be a great substitution as Alavi produced sufficiently. Branko also sent Mobali from the left wing to the right wing at halftime, and Mobali proved more effective on the right as his crosses were on target and very precise.

Iran 4-0 Lebanon (1-0)

Goals: Daei 15’(P) 62’, 88’ Nekounam 80’

Iran’s Lineup:

Mehdi Rahmati, Mohammad Nosrati, Rahman Rezaei, Ali Badavi, Yahya Golmohammadi (45’- Mohammad Alavi) Hossein Kabi, Javad Nekounam, Iman Mobali, Farhad Majidi (55’- Ali-Reza Nibakht-Vahedi) Ali Karimi (68’- Reza Enyati) Ali Daei

Bookings: Nasrollah(Lebanon) Kabi(Iran)