Team Melli too clever for Thais [VIDEO]

Persianfootball.com – BANGKOK, The Iranian football national team defeated Thailand 3-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier in Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Friday afternoon. Fulham’s Ashkan Dejagah, Standard Liege striker Reza Ghoochannejhad and Nijmegen winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh helped Iran to celebrate a comfortable away victory.

Eintracht Braunschweig’s goalkeeper Daniel Davari and San Jose defender Steven (Mehrdad) Beitashour found themselves in the starting lineup of Carlos Queiroz’ classic 4-2-3-1 formation instead of Saipa’s Ahmadi and Persepolis’ Mahini. It was the debut for the tall goalkeeper after the rightback had already come on as substitute against the same opposition last month.

Iran started well into the match and dominated the hosts who more or less concentrated to defend well and prevent a possible strike by the Asian powerhouse.

After ten minutes, the Iranians could have scored the lead when Esteghlal’s Pejman Montazeri found himself alone before the Thai goalkeeper but couldn’t overcome the goalkeeper.

The visitors, who convinced the viewers at home and in the stadium with intelligent passing and a smooth gameplay – especially in the midfield, broke the Thai defence in the 29th minute as Fulham’s Dejagah scored a beautiful goal into left top corner from just outside the area.

Two minutes before the halftime whistle, Iran’s goal machine Ghoochannejhad struck again after a nice combination between Masoud Shojaei and Steven Beitashour.

It was the Standard Liege striker’s seventh goal in just nine appearances.

In the second half, Team Melli mainly pulled back and secured the comfortable lead while Thailand couldn’t find a formula to break the Iranian defence.

Iran managed to score the final goal in extra-time. Persepolis’ Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari who came in earlier for Mojtaba Jabbari, caught the ball from a defender in the penalty area and passed the ball to Jahanbakhsh, who easily scored unmarked from close range.

Carlos Queiroz’ men remain on top of the table with ten points out of four games. Next up will be Lebanon in Beirut on Tuesday.

Thailand – Iran 0-3 (0-2)
Asian Cup 2015 Qualifier, Bangkok, Rajamangala Stadium

Goals:
1-0 Dejagah (29’/assist by Shojaei)
2-0 Ghoochannejhad (43’/Beitashour)
3-0 Jahanbakhsh (92’/Khalatbari)

Iran: Davari – Beitashour, Montazeri, Hosseini, Hajsafi – Teymourian, Nekounam – Dejagah, Jabbari (69′ Khalatbari), Shojaei (85′ Jahanbakhsh) – Ghoochannejhad (83′ Ansarifard)

Bookings:
Jabbari, Teymourian, Dejagah, Hajsafi

View the goals, highlights or full match from PFDC TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBnVZyREh5A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8wJPQHuW8s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIaCDOvwxBU