TMDC - Team Melli Iran won the third WAFF championship in style after yet another crushing defeat of Syria 4-1 on Friday 25^th June 2004 in Azadi Stadium. Ali Karimi , Ali Daei , Arash Borhani and Javad Nekounam scored a goal each to cap a magnificent performance by Team Melli and its fourth win in a row during this tournament.

The match started with Iran determined to perform yet another of those devastating performances and with a large score margin. Barely 15 seconds of the first half has elapsed when Ali Karimi sent a beautifully weighted ball to the on rushing Borhani who shot at tight angle but saw his shot saved by Syrian keeper Saeed to a corner.

Fearing another heavy defeat and after the Syrian sensed the danger from that Borhani's close shave, they responded in style.  A long ball from deep inside the Syrian box was sent forward for Raja Rafea who was closely marked by Golmohamadi. The Syrian forward managed to dispense of his Iranian marker and no made no mistake in placing the ball to the far left of Rahmati to score the first goal of the match. A shock 1-0 lead to Syria and a dream start for them.

But what that goal did was to increase the resolve of the Iranian players. Team Melli controlled the game and had no real problem in reaching the Syrian goal. However, chances after another were missed for the equalizer the most dangerous of which was when Daei challenged a defender and luckily won the ball. Following a short run Daei sent a powerful shoot towards the goal but the keeper managed finger tips save for a corner. Daei repeated a similar move later and penetrated the Syrian defense, where he was fouled, but as the ball run loose to Nekounam, the referee gave a good advantage for Nekounam who shoot brilliantly but the post saved the Syrians.

Eventually Iran got the goal they deserved from a cross to Daei who nicely deflected his header towards Karimi who headed home to the left of Syrian keeper. The first have ended 1-1 which was really a complimentary for the Syrians.

The team work of Team Melli has been significantly improving as the tournament was progressing and it was evident in this half. Most players managed to perform up to expectation apart from Nikbakht who was clueless and hence useless. The other player who did not perform up to standard was Kaebi who was guilty of poor positioning while carrying out his defensive duties and was caught off-position several times during the half.

The second half began where Iran left off. Continuous attacks looking for more goals. In the 47^th minute Borhani received the ball and penetrated the Syrian defenses, unfortunately he paused while close to the goal with several options, which allowed the defenders to clear his ball for a corner. The ensuing corner by Karimi reached Kavianpour who blasted the ball skywards. Borhani wasted another good chance 2 minutes later.

On 50^th minute a Free Kick by Daei short to Nekounam resulted in a thunderous shot but only inches wide from target.

3 minutes later a brilliant weaving run by Borhani who sliced the Syrian defense like hot knife through butter ended with a square pass to Daei. The Iranian Captain kept his cool, controlled the ball and dispensed from the on-rushing defender, finally slotting his shoot to the right far corner of Samer Saeed for Iran’s 2^nd goal.

From then on, Iran was virtually controlling the game and players, sensing another superior performance against their opponents played a controlled and logical game.

In the 70^th minute Iran scored the 3^rd goal as a result of a beautiful cross by Nekounam which was flicked into the goal by the sensational young star Arash Borhani.

5 minutes later, another beautiful ball on the right hand side of the Syrian box controlled by Daei and squared to Karimi , whose clever backward pass found Nekounam unmarked and the easiest task of slotting the ball home from close range.

Minutes later , Borhani left the field injured as Iran has uses all its substitution , they continued with 10 players.

In added time Rahmati saved a dangerous ball from Alyousif  on 1 to1 situation.

The match ended in a comprehensive win for Iran and deservedly crowned as champions by Mohammad Bin Hammam AFC president.

WAFF Final

Iran 4 – Syria 1

Goals:

RAFEA Raja (SYR) (3') ; KARIMI Ali (IRN)(34') ; DAEI Ali (IRN)(59')  ;  BORHANI Arash (IRN)(69')  ; NEKOUNAM  Javad (IRN)(75')

RAHMATI Mehdi (GK) ,KAEBI Hossein  (AMIRABADI Mehdi 83') ,GOLMOHAMADI Yahya , BADAVI Ali , KAVINAPOUR Hamed , NOSRATI Mohammad , NEKOUNAM Javad , VAHEDI-NIKBAKHT Ali Reza (ALAVI Mohamad 70'), BORHANI Arash , KARIMI Ali (ENAYATI Reza 79') , DAEI Ali