Expect a very good game: Teymourian

AFC – DOHA, Andranik Teymourian is expecting a tight tussle when he and his Iran team mates take on Korea Republic in the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 on Saturday.

The two giants of Asian football go into the highly anticipated clash in fine form having both emerged undefeated from the group stages, with Iran completing their Group D fixtures with a 3-0 win over the United Arab Emirates.

That result – achieved with a starting line-up that featured 10 changes from the side that defeated DPR Korea in the previous game – meant Afshin Ghotbi’s team is the only one remaining in the competition with a 100 percent record.

“I think it was a really difficult game because it was the last game and the UAE closed the spaces in the first half,” said Teymourian. “In the second half we started well, we worked hard and we scored three goals.

“I think everybody was confident before the game, everybody’s happy. I hope we can play better against South Korea.

“South Korea is a decent team and they have players who can change the game but we have those kind of players as well. You will see that we can play a very good game against each and I hope we can win again.”

Teymourian backed the manager’s decision to make wholesale changes to his starting line-up as the Iranians had already guaranteed their place at the top of the group prior to the meeting with Srecko Katanec’s side.

“That was the manager’s mentality and it’s his decision who plays,” he said. “A couple of players have played a few games and were tired.

South Korea game is important and it was his decision to rest a few players.

“Now we play South Korea and that is the draw, we can’t change it. Everybody’s thinking positively and hopefully we can win again.”