Kuwait end Iran’s WAFF dominance
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PFDC – AMMAN, The 2010 WAFF Championship final ended in a 2-1 defeat against outsider Kuwait on Sunday night. Iran showed a poor performance at times even embarrassing.
Kuwait started successfully in the WAFF final match as Abdulaziz Al-Enezi’s goal in the 10th helped the underdog from the Persian Gulf taking the lead against an amateurish teamwork of the Iranian rearguard. Leftback Ehsan Hajsafi overslept the situation as well as central defender Hanif Omranzadeh and both defensive midfielders Andranik Teymourian and Pejman Nouri.
A failed shot from Teymourian (25′), a long shot from Milad Zanidpour (35′) and an unsuccessful shot from Iman Mobali (42′) were Iran’s only notable opportunities in the first half.
The second half started like the first 45 minutes had ended. Iran defender Omranzadeh’s “brilliant” assist to Kuwait’s striker Youssef Sulaiman one minute after the halftime break was the icing on the cake of an overall disappointing performance of the Iranian defence. Iran goalie Mehdi Rahmati, who was one of the few bright spots in the Iranian national team couldn’t save the shot although it wasn’t unstoppable.
The Iranians got one back five minutes into extra-time thanks to Milad Meydavoudi’s header after a Zanidpour cross to the penalty spot.
The WAFF Championship final was one of the weakest performances of the Iranian national team in 2010 which is slightly worrying right before the tough friendly against five-time World Cup champion Brasil on Thursday in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
Iran – Kuwait 1-2 (0-1)
WAFF Championship final, Amman, King Abdullah Stadium
Iran: Rahmati – Nosrati, Omranzadeh (60′ Oladi), Hosseini, Hajsafi – Teymourian, P. Nouri – Heydari, Zanidpour – Mobali (60′ Meydavoudi), Gholami
Goals:
0-1 10′ Al-Enezi
0-2 46′ Sulaiman
1-2 95′ Meydavoudi (assist by Zanidpour)
Bookings:
Teymourian, Oladi
