Iran defeat Iraq in WAFF semifinal

PFDC – AMMAN, Iran advanced to the WAFF Championship final after defeating Iraq 2-1 on Friday afternoon.

Iran central defender Jalal Hosseini with a nice header (53′) and striker Mohammad Gholami with a shot from close range (86′) ensured an overall deserved victory over an equal opponent.

Thanks to Hanif Omranzadeh’s and Mohammad Nosrati’s weak man marking, Iraq’s Mostafa Karim scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute.

Iraq had two 100%er (11′, 63′), Iran also had good opportunities to make the game safe (21′, 67′, 86′). Mohammad Ali Karim’s red card for a tackling from behind on Ehsan Hajsafi in the 76th minute helped Iran dominating the match.

Iran will meet Kuwait in the final on Sunday, who needed a penalty shootout to get past Yemen.

Iran – Iraq 2-1 (0-0)
WAFF Championship, Amman, King Abdullah Stadium

Iran: Rahmati – Nosrati, Hosseini, Omranzadeh, Hajsafi – Teymourian, P. Nouri – Heydari, Meydavoudi (46. Zanidpour) – Mobali – Oladi (74. Gholami)

Goals:
1-0 Hosseini (53’/assist by Mobali)
1-1 M. Karim (72′)
2-1 Gholami (84’/ Zanidpour)

Bookings: Mobali, Hajsafi

Suspension: Mohammed Ali Karim (76′)