Uzbekistan stuns Iran in World Cup qualifier [VIDEO]

PFDC – TEHRAN, The Iranian football national team suffered a painful setback in their World Cup 2014 qualification campaign as Carlos Queiroz men gave away three easy points to the guests from Uzbekistan in Tehran on a rainy Wednesday evening.

Carlos Queiroz who had to follow the qualifier in between the nearly 80,000 visitors due to a ban, watched ambitious Iranians who started well into the game and put pressure on the Uzbek defensive line.

In the 10th minute, it was the Belgian legionnaire Reza Ghoochannejad who wasted a good opportunity for the Iranian national team after a brilliant Dejagah cross. Ghoochannejads header barely missed the goal.

Persepolis’ Mohammad Nouri could have scored the opener in the 12th minute after a nice combination of Fulham’s Ashkan Dejagah and Esteghlal’s Khosrow Heydari, but the Emirati referee who displayed a very weak performance today, rightfully voided the goal and blowed the whistle for offside as Khalatbari hindered the Uzbek goalkeeper in the six-yard box during Nouri’s shot.

Two more opportunities from Ghoochannejad in the first half were denied by the keeper (30′, 42′).

The second half started like the first 45 minutes ended. Iran tried to be in possession of the ball, the Uzbek national team focused on their defensive work.

Persepolis striker Karim Ansarifard who was subbed in for a weak performing Mohammad Reza Khalatbari after the half time whistle, took his chance in the 48th minute, but his shot missed the goal.

The Uzbek national team stunned the home side as well as the crowd in the Azadi stadium as the visitors scored the opener of the match in the 72th minute after a brilliant set-piece by Djeparov. Iran midfielder Andranik Teymourian failed to mark Bakaev who had no problems to score the only goal of the qualifier.

Iran tried to score the equalizer, but in the end it was not enough to break the Uzbek wall in front of the goal.

In stoppage time, Ghoochannejad had the equalizer on his feet, but couldn’t put the ball into the empty box.

The Iranian national team is on third position in group A with 7 points. Uzbekistan are table-toppers with 9 points.

IRAN – UZBEKISTAN 0-1 (0-0)
FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifier, Azadi Stadium, Tehran

Goal: 0-1 Bakaev (72’/assist by Djeparov)

Bookings: Dejagah, M. Nouri, Teymourian

IRAN: Rahmati – Heydari, Montazeri, Hosseini, Pouladi – Teymourian (80′ Abbasfard), Nekounam, M. Nouri (67′ P. Nouri) – Dejagah, Ghoochannejad, Khalatbari (47′ Ansarifard)

Highlights Iran vs Uzbekistan on PFDC TV:
First half
https://vimeo.com/53539578

Second Half
https://vimeo.com/53542299