Iran defeat Mauretania in test match [VIDEO]

PFDC – TEHRAN, Iran won a test match against Mauretania 2-0 on Wednesday afternoon.

With less than 200 spectators watching from the stands in Tehran’s Azadi stadium after confusion if the game would be open to the public at all, Iran’s B team wasted numerous chances and were highly unlucky not to have scored more than two goals at halftime.

Midfielder Ghasem Dehnavi and shooting star Karim Ansarifard scored in minute 31 and 33 respectively. Both goals were assisted by leftback and today’s captain Ehsan Hajsafi.

No further goals could be added against Mauretania after Carlos Queiroz had changed the complete team at halftime.

Mauretania, who had also lost a recent friendly match to Egypt 0-3, came close to pulling one back after 69 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty kick, which, however, was wasted. Mohsen Mosalman had committed the foul on the visitors.

Team Melli had to finish with ten men following Ahmad Hassanzadeh’s injury after 75 minutes with no field players left on Iran’s bench to replace him.

Yet, Iran should have added a third goal 11 minutes from time, when Payam Sadeghian was brought down inside the area, but Mohammad Ghazi’s spotkick came off the woodwork.

The game, which was not televised at all, will not be regarded as official FIFA A match due to the many substitutions at halftime.

Iran next will take on Mozambique on May 2, also in Tehran, who are expected to be a tougher test than Mauretania.

Iran – Mauretania 2-0 (2-0)
Inofficial friendly match, Azadi stadium, 200 spectators

Goals:
1-0 Ghasem Dehnavi (31′ / assist by Ehsan Hajsafi)
2-0 Karim Ansarifard (33′ / Hajsafi)

Iran first half: Forouzan – Mahini, Khalilazadeh, Amir-Hossein Sadeghi, Hajsafi – Hadadifar, Dehnavi, Zanidpour – Yaghoub Karimi, Gholami, Ansarifard

Iran second half: Gordan – Fakhredini, Kouroshi, Ebrahim Karimi, Akbar Sadeghi- Reza Haghighi, P. Nouri, Mosalman – Sadeghian, Ghazi, Hassanzadeh