Ansarifard books quarterfinal berth for Iran [VIDEO]

PFDC – DOHA, A Karim Ansarifard goal shortly after the hourmark downed DPR Korea and secured the second win in as many matches for Iran in the 2011 Asian Cup.

Team Melli are the first team to have already qualified from group stage after two games, and additionally are certain group winners after UAE’s loss to Iraq in the other group match.

Things didn’t start well for Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi, as he needed to replace three influential players due to illness. Osasuna forward Masoud Shojaei and two of the best players of the first encounter, former Bolton and Fulham midfielder Andranik Teymourian and Persepolis striker Gholamreza Rezaei, had to be replaced by Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari, Pejman Nouri and Khosro Heydari in Iran’s usual 4-3-3 formation.

Additionally, Mohammad Gholami, who had been rather invisible in the 2-1 opening win against title holders Iraq, made space for youngster Ansarifard in central attack.

The many changes obviously affected Iran, who were only second best for most of first half. However, the Koreans, unused to controlling a game, made little out of Iran’s uninspired display, only Bochum striker Jong Tae-Se tested Iran’s keeper Mehdi Rahmati twice, who was on guard on both occassions.

Iran should have taken the lead after 38 minutes though, when Ansarifard got past his marker and beat the goalkeeper, but the Bahraini referee booked the Saipa Karaj striker for a handplay which actually had never happened.

Team Melli, now with Mohammad Nouri instead of Iman Mobali in midfield, showed an improved display after the break. Khalatbari could have broken the deadlock after 58 minutes, but saw his shot form tight angle being saved by the keeper.

But five minutes later a quick throw-in by Ehsan Hajsafi surprised the complete North Korean team. Pejman Nouri took a run down the left wing an perfectly crossed the ball to Ansarifard, who directly tipped the ball into the net.

DPR Korea might have equalized with an effort form far outside the area in minute 69, hadn’t Rahmati gotten his hand to the well placed shot.

Iran were lucky in injury time when Korea skipper Hong Yong-Jo unleashed a good shot from inside the penalty area, which came off the woodwork.

The win guarantees Iran the top spot in group D already ahead of the final group match against the UAE on Wednesday. Afshin Ghotbi announced to rest some players for the quarterfinal match three days later.

Iran – DPR Korea 1-0 (0-0)
2011 Asian Cup, Qatar, Group D

Goal: 1-0 Karim Ansarifard (63′ / assist by Pejman Nouri)

Iran: Rahmati – Nosrati (61′ Rezaei), Aghili, Hosseini, Hajsafi – Mobali (46′ M. Nouri), Nekounam, P. Nouri – Heydari, Ansarifard (92′ Gholami), Khalatbari

Iranian players booked: Ansarifard, P. Nouri, Heydari