UAE 0-3 Iran [VIDEO & PHOTOS]
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AFC – DOHA, Iran maintained their 100% record at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ whilst ending the UAE’s quarter-final hopes with a 3-0 victory at Qatar Sports Club Stadium on Wednesday.
The three-time champions had already wrapped up first place in Group D while the UAE had gone into the game needing three points to have a chance of joining Afshin Ghotbi’s side in the last eight.
Iran’s Arash Afshin opened the scoring in 70th before seeing his joy cut short when he was sent off two minutes later.
The UAE were then also reduced to 10 men with Khalid Sebil receiving his marching orders before Iran sealed the win with a late Mohammad Nori strike and a Walid Abbas own goal.
Iran had made a number of changes to their first 11 and it was no surprise that the UAE started the stronger as Subait Khater tried his luck from distance after nine minutes, but his shot was straight at keeper Shahab Gordon.
The UAE continued to look the more dangerous with Ahmad Khalil seeing his shot rebound off the woodwork before Ismail Matar struck the outside of the post from close range.
Iran were seemingly happy to invite the pressure for the time being, although created a good chance just before the half hour mark when a headed clearance went only as far as Mohammad Nori and the forward hit a first-time shot that flew just wide.
But it was still the UAE who looked the most likely to score as Khalil fired a free-kick over the bar before Matar’s 44th minute strike drifted just wide of Gordan’s far post.
It took until the 60th minute for the first noteworthy chance of the second half to arrive as Ghasem Hadadifar smartly controlled the ball on the edge of the area before sending a dipping volley that needed UAE keeper Majed Nasser to produce a diving save to push the ball away for a corner.
But it was the large contingent of Iranian fans that were cheering when their side finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute.
Substitute Gholam Reza Rezaei crossed from the right and Mohammad Gholami first crashed a header against the crossbar before then smashing the rebound against the woodwork, but this time Afshin was on hand to stab home the loose ball.
Afshin’s joy lasted just two minutes though as he took out Nasser when attempting to challenge for the ball, injuring himself in the process before the midfielder was then shown his second yellow card as he was being stretchered off the pitch.
The UAE were also reduced to 10 men with 11 minutes remaining when Sebil was sent off for a second bookable offence after taking the legs of Hadadifar.
And Iran wrapped up the win when Nori swept home in the 83rd minute before Abbas knocked the ball into his own net when attempting to prevent Rezai going clean through on goal in stoppage time.
Iran – UAE 3-0 (0-0)
2011 Asian Cup group stage
Goals:
1-0 Arash Afshin (70′ / assist by Mohammad Gholami)
2-0 Mohammad Nouri (83′ / Khosro Heydari)
3-0 Abbas (90′ / own goal)
Iran: Gordan – Heydari, Talebi, Bengar, Hajsafi (60′ Nosrati) – M. Nouri, Teymourian, Hadadifar – Afshin, Gholami (85′ R. Norouzi), Shojaei (46′ Rezaei)
Iranian players booked: Afshin, Bengar, Rezaei
Suspensions: Arash Afshin (75′ / second yellow card)
