Iran earn point in Doha [VIDEO]

PFDC – DOHA, Iran showed a good performance in Doha, but failed to capitalize on numerous chances and so finally had to settle with a 1-1 draw against Persian Gulf side Qatar in World Cup qualification.

Iran dominated the Qatar Stars league allstar team known as the Qatar national football team, with a short interruption following captain Javad Nekounam’s exit due to injury after a collision with Uruguayan striker Sebastian Quintana, which obviously had put Carlos Queiroz’ team under shock.

Had the first half been missing clear cut scoring opportunities, Iran then took the overdue lead early in second half when Hadi Aghily, currently under contract with Qatari outfits Al Arabi, brilliantly headed an Andranik Teymourian corner kick into the net.

The once more outstanding Teymourian himself had won the corner when his good shot had forced Qatar’s Senegalese keeper Burhan to a spectacular save.

Teymourian then set up what looked to be the 2-0, but Karim Ansarifard was denied by Burhan’s leg from close range.

Only moments later Ansarifard again found himself in great position and only needed to set up the completely unmarked Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari beside him, but unfortunately opted to finish himself under pressure and again was denied by the keeper.

The misses should prove costly as Iran was punished for Ansarifard’s inexperience immediately, when Aghily & Co. failed to clear the ball away and El Sayed curled the ball past a chanceless Mehdi Rahmati.

Iran continued to have the upper hand, but Ansarifard, Jalal Hosseini, Farhad Majidi and Gholamreza Rezaei wasted further scoring opportunities while also Qatar failed to capitalize on their few chances.

Though the draw was somehow bitter for Iran, the team, apart from lack of coolness in front of goal and a few concentration lapses in defenes, looked very dominant and convincing and seeming to be on a good way. The loss of the most influential player Nekounam in first half was hurtful, however, it was comforting that the team functioned well without him too.

The draw keeps Iran in first position of the table with four points, ahead of Bahrain on goal-difference after Bahrain defeated Indonesia 2-0 in Jakarta in a game which had to be interrupted after inappropriate conduct on the stands. Qatar are third with two points ahead of pointless Indonesia.

Next task for Iran will be Bahrain in Tehran while Qatar will be looking to book their first win in World Cup qualification round 3 in Jakarta on October 11.

The top two teams of the group will qualify for the final stage of qualification.

Qatar – Iran 1-1 (0-0)
World Cup qualification round 3, Group E

Goals:
1-0 Hadi Aghily (46′ / assist by Andranik Teymourian)
1-1 Mohamed El Sayed (55′)

Iran: Rahmati – Heydari, Aghily, Hosseini, Pouladi – Karimi (70′ Majidi), Nekounam (37′ Zare), Teymourian – Rezaei, Ansarifard, Khalatbari (63′ Jabbari)

Iranian players booked: Khosro Heydari, Maziar Zare