Iran victorious in Qatar [VIDEO]

Persianfootball.com – DOHA, Iran still play a role in the contest for the two direct World Cup qualifying spots after defeating Qatar 1-0 in Doha’s Al Sadd stadium thanks to Reza Ghoochannejhad’s second half goal.

Iran, who had to do without the injured midfield gem Ashkan Dejagah and leftback Mehrdad Pouladi as well as the suspended coach Carlos Queiroz, and Qatar looked equal in first half, but it were the hosts who looked more dangerous in the beginning.

Despite the absence of Uruguayan goal getter Sebastian Soria, the tiny Persian Gulf Emirate should have taken the lead after a horrible turnover from Andranik Teymourian caught Iran’s newly organized defense off-guard, but Al Haido’s shot bounced off the woodwork.

But after 25 minutes Iran was able to trouble Qatar’s defense more and more, and had some good chances as well. Ghoochannejhad probably thought he beaten Qasem Burhan with a great close range header, but the African-born keeper kept his clean sheet with an astonishing reflex.

Ghoochannejhad saves Iran

Second half was a similar affair as the first until Ghoochannejhad finally made the difference.

A good Javad Nekounam pass found Mojtaba Jabbari at the edge of the area, who was stripped off the ball by his marker. However, the loose ball became the perfect serving for the Standard Liege striker who got his foot to the ball ahead of the advancing Burhan and score his third national team goal in his fifth appearance.

Qatar of course were eager to make up the deficit, but their efforts remained rather harmless whereas Iran looke dangerous on the counter and closer to a second goal than the home side to the equalizer.

The most dangerous scenes were two alleged fouls inside the Iranian box, but the referee’s whistle remained silent on both occasions. On the other side Qatar was very lucky not to be reduced to ten men in two scenes and therefore certainly cannot complain about the referee.

The final whistle after 95 minutes sealed three points for Iran, who remain in third position with 10 points out of six matches, whereas Qatar remain fourth with seven points after already seven games.

South Korea took back the lead of the group on goal difference after a yet disappointing 1-1 draw in Lebanon. South Korea’s goal came in the 97th minute of the match.

Match-free Uzbekistan remain second, also with 11 points, making next Tuesday’s clash between the two sides in Seoul a very exciting affair.

On the same day Iran will host Lebanon in Tehran’s Azadi stadium.

Qatar – Iran 0-1 (0-0)
AFC round 4 World Cup qualifier, Al Sadd Stadium, Doha

Goal: Reza Ghoochannejhad (66′)

Iranian players booked: Ghoochannejhad

Iran’s lineup: Ahmadi – Montazeri, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Beikzadeh – Teymourian, Nekounam – Heydari (93′ Rezaei), Jabbari (85′ Khalatbari), Shojaei – Ghoochannejhad (88′ Ebrahimi)

Watch the video from PFDC TV