Dejagah shines in Qatar draw [VIDEO+PHOTOS]

PFDC – TEHRAN, Iran and Qatar shared points in the Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifier in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. VfL Wolfsburg legionnaire Ashkan Dejagah celebrated his long-awaited debut for the Iranian football national team with a brace (3′, 51′). However, The Iranian defense again showed a hospitably performance by allowing Qatar to return twice to the run for the World Cup 2014 qualification by two avoidable goals (7′, 86′).

Carlos Queiroz’ men started well into the game and initially placed the Qatari defense in a dilemma after three minutes. Mehrdad Pouladi played a beautiful cross into the penalty area, where Wolfsburg midfielder Ashkan Dejagah (25) jumped higher than his opponent to score Iran’s lead by a stunning header from close range.

The pleasure didn’t last long as the Iranian defense, unfortunately like often before, acted sleepy and unorganized and left Qatar striker Khalfan Ibrahim alone in front of Esteghlal goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati, who unfairly stopped the striker in the penalty box, which resulted in a penalty call by the Uzbek referee Irmatov.

Khalfan himself took the penalty and scored the equalizer for the guests in the 7th minute.

The hosts were not unsettled by Qatar’s answer and kept putting pressure on Qatar’s defensive line and were close to score again, however Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari (23′) and Ghazi (35′) were not able to put the ball into the opponent’s net.

Dejagah, who showed a brilliant and freshening performance today, extended the lead for Iran (51′) with a beautiful freekick from nearly 25 meters, even though Qatar’s keeper was more than cooperative in the dead-ball situation.

In further consequence, the Iranian football national team performed well, especially Javad Nekounam, who hammered a shot against the crossbar (60′), and Ali Karimi stabilized the midfield and ensured an Iranian dominance throughout the game.

In contrary to the course of the game, the Qatari national team could secure a 2-2 draw from close to scratch (86′). Fabio Cesar played a freekick into the penalty area, where Qatar’s Kasola was not marked by both centrebacks Jalal Hosseini and Hadi Aghily and could easily put a header into the net. Iran goalie Rahmati again acted unlucky and confirmed his descending form curve.

Bahrain and Saudi-Arabia say good-bye

The table-toppers Iran and runners-up Qatar qualified for the final stage of the World Cup 2014 qualification, while Bahrain, despite a suspicious 10-0 home victory over bottom-placed Indonesia in Manama, will have to follow the World Cup at home – again.

While Asian powerhorses like South Korea, Australia and Japan (more or less) easily did their homework, Saudi Arabia are again staying down for another four years until the Russia 2018 World Cup qualification as Frank Rijkaard’s men suffered a bitter 4-2 defeat against Australia in Melbourne. Oman defeated Thailand 2-0 at home and secured a spot in the final qualification round.

IRAN – Qatar 2-2 (1-1)
Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifier
Azadi Stadium, Tehran

IRAN: Rahmati – Heydari (85′ Mahini), Aghily, Hosseini, Pouladi – Karimi, Nekounam, P. Nouri – Dejagah, Ghazi (72′ Ansarifard), Khalatbari (65′ M.Nouri)

Goals:
1-0 Dejagah (3′ / Assist by Pouladi)
1-1 Khalfan Ibrahim (7′ / penalty)
2-1 Dejagah (51′)
2-2 Kasola (86′ / Cesar)

Bookings:
Hosseini

Highlights from PFDC TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-MDThe4rVk