Iran’s Journey to Russia… The Cheetahs Leave the Tigers Feeling Blue [VIDEO]

PersianFootball.com – BANGALORE,  Team Melli finally claimed the lead position in Group D of the Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, after defeating India 3-0 in front of a sizable and boisterous contingent of Iranian fans in Bangalore’s underwhelming Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

The Blue Tigers remain last in the group without a single point, or even a single roar that would have personified the ferocious mythical beast they’ve been named after.  Although in a touch of irony, the first half of their nickname has proven quite descriptive of the mood of their fans throughout this campaign.

Team Melli took the lead in the 28th minute when Sardar Azmoun headed in Andranik Teymourian’s free kick from the left flank.  But the fans had little else to cheer after a disorganized half from Iran, made even more torturous to watch, by Indian flags frequently blocking the camera and Javad Khiabani’s irrelevant and error-laden commentary on Iranian TV.

Carlos Queiroz seems to have given all the right instructions to his men at half-time, as they started the 2nd half looking much more focused and assertive, taking India’s defense off guard and tripling their lead within just 5 minutes of the restart.

Mehdi Taremi’s back-flick header put an astray cross from Dejagah back into the path of Teymourian who had no problem converting with an easy shot from 10 yards out.  Three minutes later, it was Taremi who converted from the exact same spot, compliments of Omid Ebrahimi’s persistence and some scrappy defending from the Indians.

Team Melli looked fluid and dominated the next 13 minutes but a puzzling decision from Queiroz in the 62nd minute, to bring in defender Morteza Pouraliganji in place of striker and man of the match Mehdi Taremi, noticeably changed the balance of power on the battlefield.

With less of a threat from Iran’s offensive line and lone striker Azmoun looking tired if not invisible, the Indians accepted the invitation to push forward and started to threaten Iran’s net in the 70th minute with back-to-back scoring opportunities from close range.

The next 10 minutes also saw India increase their shots’ tally significantly – limited to only one attempt on goal until the 70th minute.  But Queiroz, whose ingenious substitutions against Guam had resulted in two assists and one goal, made the necessary adjustment in the 74th minute.

Debutante Kaveh Rezaei, replaced a tired and ineffective Khosro Heydari, injecting some life back into Team Melli who dominated the closing 10 minutes of the match and threatened India’s goal several more times but failed to convert their chances.

Although some fans may have craved a more convincing performance and a more lop-sided result, they should be more than content with a solid result away from home, and Team Melli in full charge of Group D when they face off with Oman on October 8th in Muscat.

Al-Ahmar [the Reds] fans got a dose of the blues earlier in the day when Oman failed to break down the Guamanian defense in their away match, to keep Team Melli under pressure before the most important match of the group for both teams.

PFDC Player Ratings*

Sardar Azmoun: 7.6
Mehdi Taremi: 7.2
Andranik Teymourian: 7.1
Saeid Ezatolahi: 6.9
Ehsan Hajsafi: 6.6
Vahid Amiri: 6.6
Jalal Hosseini: 6.4
Omid Ebrahimi: 6.1
Pejman Montazaeri: 6.1
Kaveh Rezaei: 5.8
Alireza Haghighi:  5.3
Morteza Pouraliganji: 5.3
Ashkan Dejagah: 4.3
Khosro Heydari: 3.1

*Note: Average ratings for each player from the PFDC community.

Match Highlights with Indian Commentators: