World Cup Qualifier: Uzbekistan - Iran; Info, Updates and Live Reports (06.10.2016)

[Kiarash]

Match Information
Game: Uzbekistan - Iran
Venue: Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Date: Thursday 6 October 2016
Local Time: 18:00 UZT
Tournament: FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifying Games
Stage: Final Round Match day 3, Group A

Match Report
FIFA
AFC

Officials
Referee: Benjamin Ibn Williams (Australia)

Latest head-to-head results


Time Zones*
06:00 Los Angeles - Vancouver
09:00 New York - Toronto
14:00 Lissabon - London
15:00 Amsterdam - Berlin
16:30 Dubai
17:00 Tehran
23:00 Sydney

Broadcasters
The AFC Hub

*To avoid confusion, you can convert the times by yourself if you doubt the accurateness of this post here:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

[Damavand]

This game is not a must win, but at all costs we must not LOSE this game.

[Kiarash]

This is the first game I am legitimately worried about. I think 0-0 would be a decent result in Tashkent, if we beat Korea Republic in Tehran a few days after. Our aim in Tashkent should be not to concede any goals as it may make the difference in direct qualification at the end of the race.

[Damavand]

Like I mentioned in another thread, we need a minimum of 4 points from these 2 games to stay on course.

[Bessos]

Officials
Referee: Benjamin Ibn Williams (Australia)

[Ghermez Agha]

Very tough match, hardest one in the first set of games IMO. A draw wouldn't be a bad result, but I expect us to put on a convincing performance after two sub par performances. Our key players in azmoun and ezi are really going to need to step it up if we want to come away with 3 points. I'm confident CQ will get our boys ready, I just hope he gives Masoud the start again after how many great chances he created last game

[persiangodfather]

We are the under dog

[ehsan singapore]

we just must not lose, if we win will be even better, we can win , hahha and benjamin ibn william!

[eerooni]

I have periodically used my gut feeling to make crucial decisions and predictions. And I can say now that we will win this game!
I'm Very very confident. Uzbeks are the underdogs NOT us!

[DireStraits]

I would start Gucci instead of Azmoon. Ashkan is going to start I assume in the left JB in the righ. Torabi could replace DJ or JB if they are not in good shape. It will be HARD GAME
but we should win. China is stronger than UZ

[Kiarash]

I want Torabi to start. He is on fire at Saipa and knows how to score against Uzbekistan!

[DireStraits]

I am afraid of the australian ref. He can mess things up.

[Malavani]

IMO, we need some of our most experienced and/or physical players to start vs Uzb. Something like this:

Beiranvand

Ghafouri Hosseini Pouraliganji Mohammadi

Teymourian Ezi

Dejagah Shojaei Hajsafi

Gucci


Subs: Azmoun for Gucci, Torabi for Hajsafi or Jahanbakhsh for Dejagah, Ebrahimi for Teymourian
I'm not so convinced by Ghafouri and Mohammadi but they're still an upgrade over Rezaeian and Hajsafi (as LB)

[zzgloo]

our defense is better than their's....and that is a key in this game...while their offense may be a little more experinced than ours,but it is harder for them to score against TM ,than it is for TM offense to score against their defense.
Dejagah,needs to be untilized better...his talent was not maximized by where he played in the last two games.
That " bold guy ",whats his name ? ( Alexander Geynrikh ) their forward ,must be contained .....Gucci,Azmoon,and jahanbakhsh must play from the begining.
we will win..2-1.

[Ando Teymourian]

I watched Uzbekistan vs Syria and Qatar, and here were a few things I observed (as a guy with no qualifications lol :P)

1) UZB left side is much stronger than their right side. What does this mean? 2 things:

a) Our left can take advantage of their right. Question is, who to put there? I wouldn't mind Ashkan as LW and a stay at home type of guy at LB, who can still attack. Whether this means utilising someone like Beikzadeh (even if it is just for this game), using a younger LB, or going with our usual Hajsafi or MiMo.

As for LW, I already mentioned Dejagah because of his work rate, skill, and willingness to help defend. 2 other guys that could help at left wing are Torabi (speed, potential confidence against UZB), and Taremi for some strength/bulk. I can see Taremi using his power/pace to get by UZB's right back. If we want to go more balanced, then Hajsafi would be the best option at LW.

b) Our right side needs to be careful. UZB has one of the better left backs in Asia IMO, and their LW is decently crafty as well. Jahanbakhsh will need to have basically one of his best games for TM in Tashkent. Both on attack and helping in defending. Question is who is our RB of choice? Ghafouri has been playing better lately, but I still think Rezaeian is the main man in that spot. His fitness is next to none, and we don't have to doubt that he can go the 90 mins. He played better vs China, but we will need him to really step it up another notch in Tashkent.

2) I know UZB are tall and physically strong, but they didn't look that confident in the air... I think we can win the set piece battle, and as a result I think Masoud should play. He has a gift of drawing fouls in dangerous areas around the opponents box. We should try to take full advantage and whip as many balls into the box as possible.

That is another reason that starting Taremi might not be a bad idea... He can definitely beat UZB defenders in the air.

We also MUST take advantage of corners. Let JB start taking them, but if we see they aren't up to par, then let either 1) Masoud 2) Ando 3) Rezaeian take them.

3) UZB attack through the middle was not great, but they did have some dangerous moments. Hosseini and PAG need to be cautious, but I think their biggest challenge will come from crosses coming from our right side into the box. Beiranvand also needs to be smart about when to exit and catch the many crosses that will come from his right.

Anyway, just a few thoughts.. Let's go Team Melli, 3 pts is definitely doable!