Iran down Iraq in Asian Cup [VIDEO & PHOTOS]

PFDC – DOHA, Iran came back from a goal down to beat title holders Iraq 2-1 in their 2011 Asian Cup openener on Tuesday evening.

Younis Mahmoud had scored an early opening goal, but Gholamreza Rezaei’s first half strike and a late goal by Iman Mobali sealed a sweet victory for Team Melli.

Early Iraqi lead

Both teams were lined up in 4-3-3 formations, Iran using their more offensive version of the system with playmaker Iman Mobali playing alongside defensive midfielders Javad Nekounam and Andranik Teymourian.

Iraq had the better start to the game, and could have taken the lead after just four minutes, when star striker Younis Mahmoud beat the offside but was denied by Mehdi Rahmati.

But the usually flawless Rahmati didn’t look good when he came off the line but couldn’t collect a cross to the far post eight minutes later, and the ball was headed back to center by former Sepahan Esfahan striker Emad Reza, where Mahmoud had little problems tipping the ball into the deserted goal.

Iran strike back

Iran came close to equalzing when Hadi Aghily headed a Mobali freekick on goal, but the keeper was equal to it after 24 minutes.

Five minutes later Iran’s central striker Mohammad Gholami should have done better in a goalmouth scramble after a freekick, but fired his shot over the bar.

Four minutes from halftime Iran finally levelled the score.

Mohammad Nosrati’s pressing won the ball for Iran and Andranik Teymourian played the perfect throughball to Gholamreza Rezaei, who kept a cool head and curled the ball into the far corner.

Rezaei, however, refused to celebrate his goal out of respect for the 80 victims of the plane crash in Iran. Unfortunately the local fans hadn’t showed nearly as much class, as they ignored the minute of silence ahead of kickoff.

Iraq almost regaied the lead just moments before halftime, but first Rahmati perfectly reacted to a Abdul-Zahra header and then again to a dangerous shot from very far outside the area.

Iraq again came closed to scoring when Samal Saeed volleyed the ball past the post after a corner, shortly after the restart.

Late winner

A defensive blunder created a huge chance for Rezaei to score his and Iran’s second of the day, but this time his effort curled past the wrong side of the post.

But Iran eventually scored the winner when Iman Mobali’s freekick after a foul on the lively substitute striker Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari sailed over attackers and defenders to directly find the way into the net, with just six minutes on the clock.

Hadi Aghily then could have put the icing on the cake in the final minute of the game, but headed a Pejman Nouri freekick narrowly over the target.

Iran, having had more than 60% possession and almost three times more shots, were deserving winners of the match.

After North Korea’s goalless draw against the UAE, Iran stand in first position of the table after matchday 1. Team Melli next will take on the Koreans on Saturday.

Iran – Iraq 2-1 (1-1)
Asian Cup 2011, Group D

Goals:
0-1 Younis Mahmoud (12′)
1-1 Gholamreza Rezaei (41′ / assist by Andranik Teymourian)
2-1 Iman Mobali (84′)

Iran’s lineup: Rahmati – Nosrati, Aghily, Hosseini, Hajsafi – Teymourian, Nekounam, Mobali (87′ P. Nouri) – Rezaei, Gholami (84′ Ansarifard), Shojaei (69′ Khalatbari)

Iranian players booked: none