Iran qualifies for Asian Cup 2011 [VIDEO]
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...
PFDC – SINGAPORE, Iran, without the two La Liga players Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei, deservedly defeated Singapore 3-1 in an Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday.
In the first half, the Iranian national football team displayed a quite solid performance. The visitors took the lead after eleven minutes in a hard-fought match.
Madanchi broke through the Singaporean defence and was stopped by Singapur defender Precious, however, the overall weak Chinese referee first decided on freekick for Iran, just to change his mind and award a penalty kick to Iran which was easily converted by Hadi Aghili.
One minute after the lead, Mehrzad Madanchi extended the lead for Iran after a horrible mistake of the Singaporean defence.
As usual, Iran was unable to profit by a struggling Singapore. 15 minutes before the halftime whistle, Singapore scored the 1-2. Alam Shah was left alone in the penalty area and he had no problems to pull one back by a good header.
After the first 45 minutes, the Iranians were lucky not to concede the equalizer. Singapore’s Amri’s header just hit the bar after an other weak and disorganized performance by both right back Khosro Heydari and left back Ehsan Hajsafi.
Milad Meydavoudi had a good chance to score a comfortable lead for the visitors, his header missed the goal (58′)
Afshin Ghotbi had to change tactics and subbed in striker Gholamreza Rezaei for the weak Milad Zanidpour. Afshin Ghotbi proved to have a lucky hand. Iran started a counterattack, Milad Meydavoudi played a good pass to Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari, who fooled the defenders by back-heeling the ball to Rezaei, who lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper (63′).
Iran assumed control of the remaining playtime and afterall deservedly defeated the Singaporeans. Due to this victory, Iran is qualified for the Asian Cup 2011 in Qatar although there is still one qualifier coming up in February (Iran vs Thailand in Tehran).
Singapore – Iran 1-3 (1-2)
Asian Cup qualifier, Singapore
Goals:
0-1 Aghili (11′ / Foul on Madanchi)
0-2 Madanchi (12′)
1-2 Alam Shah (31′)
1-3 G. Rezaei (63′ / Assist by Khalatbari)
Iran: Rahmati – K. Heydari, Aghili, Hosseini, Hajsafi – Teymourian, P. Nouri – Khalatbari (92′ Kaebi), Zanidpour (58′ G. Rezaei), Madanchi – Meydavoudi (70′ Ansarifard)
Iranian players booked: Teymourian
