FIFA Friendly: Uzbekistan 0-1 Iran – Match Report (VIDEO)

Persianfootball.com – TASHKENT, Carlos Queiroz fielded a young and experimental squad during the June 11th, 2015 FIFA match-day between the two central Asian teams, while debutante Mehdi Torabi scored his first goal, winning the game for Iran in stoppage time.

Iran coach Queiroz started the match with a very different team to those fielded in recent games, with the most surprising absentees being Alireza Jahanbaksh and Ashkan Dejagah. Asides from captain Andranik Teymourian, Masoud Shojaei, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Alireza Haghighi and the experienced Ehsan Hajsafi, the rest of the team was filled with many new faces, some earning their first caps for the national team. Those earning their first appearance in the Team Melli squad starting lineup were Mohammad Kanani, Saeid Ezzatollahi and Mehdi Taremi.

The first half saw both sides take their time to get into the match with opportunities coming few and far between. As the Uzbekistani coach lined up his first squad for this game, the make-shift Iranian side were able to hold their own and defended well with Kanani stepping-up with a good performance as he partnered up with Montazaeri in central defense. Haghighi had some very good saves bringing to close the first half.

The second half saw the majority of the substitutions take place, with more new faces being given their debuts for Iran. Those who earned their first ever national team caps were Mehdi Torabi and Milad Mohammadi. With a big portion of the team consisting of the new faces, the team put on a stronger display against the Uzbeks with chances coming from a Hajsafi free kick attempt (63’), Azmoun (72’, 75’), Heydari (75’) and a spectacular attempt by Sharifi (85’) which was denied by the Uzbek keeper.

With the match referee awarding 7 minutes of additional stoppage time, both sides attempted to break the deadlock and produce a game winning moment. This eventually came around in favour of Iran as Mehdi Torabi, the attacking winger from Saipa, produced a moment of individual brilliance with a run from the left, he cut in past two defenders and unleashed a shot from a tight angle that hit the back of the net.

The way in which the events unfolded in the dying minutes of the match today displayed a memorable resemblance to the Uzbekistan vs. Iran WCQ in Tashkent on June 3rd, 2012, when a magical moment saw M.R.Khalatbari score the winning goal in the last moments of the match which helped Iran in their quest to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Starting line-up:
A.Haghighi – V.Ghafouri – P.Montazeri – M.Kanani – V.Amiri – S.Ezzatollahi – A.Teymourian – M.Shojaei – E.Hajsafi – M.Taremi – R.Ghoochannejhad

Substitutions:
M.Shojaei (M.Torabi) 46’, R.Ghoochannejhad (S.Azmoun) 46’, A.Teymourian (O.Ebrahimi) 46’, V.Amiri (K.Heydari) 46’, M.Taremi (M.Sharifi) 46’and S.Ezzatollahi (M.Mohammadi) 68’

Booked players: M.Sharifi 54’

Goal Scorer: M.Torabi 94’