Iran beat Qatar to achieve minimum goal [VIDEO]

Persianfootball.com – SYDNEY, The Iranian football national team secured a ticket for the quarterfinals at the Asian Cup 2015. Sardar Azmoun scored the winner for a struggling Team Melli but injured himself without interference.

Iran started in a rather more defensively-minded 4-2-3-1 formation. Ghoochannejhad had to make room for Rubin Kazan striker Sardar Azmoun.

Sardar could have thanked Iran coach Carlos Queiroz with a beautiful header in the first minutes of the match but Qatar goalkeeper Burhan saved his attempt easily.

Iran showed unusual weakness in the midfield. The passing game was shaky and the use of plenty chances from Shojaei (25‘), Azmoun (28‘) in the first 30 minutes was quite frustrating for Iranian fans in Sydney’s Stadium Australia.

Qatar almost had the chance to shock the Iranians in the 34th minute as right-back Ghafouri and Iran goalkeeper Haghighi omit to communicate with each other but Muntari couldn’t convert this terrible blunder of the, apart from that, strong Iranian defence.

Iran centre-back Morteza Pouraliganji had the chance to ease the upcoming tension of Team Melli, his header after a Teymourian corner in the 40 minute was saved by a Qatari defender off the goalline.

Dejagah’s shot three minutes before the halftime whistle also missed the goal.

Right after the start of the second half, Azmoun failed to score for Iran from short range while the defence and the goalkeeper of Qatar were more or less confused and disoriented.

All Iranian fans were finally released as Teymourian won a battle in the midfield. Al-Arabi winger Ashkan Dejagah’s pass found Sardar Azmoun who brilliantly outplayed a Qatari defender and scored (52‘).

The striker had a moment of shock as the Rubin Kazan striker injured himself without interference and therefore had to be subbed out for Reza Ghoochannejhad who failed to impress.

Iran had plenty of chances to secure an early victory over Qatar but again failed to convert the chances miserably as Iranian counter-attacks mostly ended in a no-man’s land.

IRAN – Qatar 1-0 (0-0)
Asian Cup groupstage, Sydney Australia Stadium

Goal:
1-0 Sardar Azmoun (52‘, assist by Ashkan Dejagah)

Bookings:
Shojaei

IRAN:
Haghighi – Ghafouri, Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Pouladi – Teymourian (87‘ Sadeghi), Nekounam – Dejagah, Shojaei (72‘ Heydari), Hajsafi – Azmoun (62‘ Ghoochannejhad)