Iran begin Asian Cup with deserved win over Persian Gulf neighbours [VIDEO]

Persianfootball.com – MELBOURNE, Team Melli’s return to Melbourne, more than 17 years after the legendary World Cup qualifier versus Australia, was a successful one, as goals from Ehsan Hajsafi and Masoud Shojaei gave Iran a well deserved 2-0 win over Bahrain on matchday 1 of Asian Cup’s group C.

Queiroz opted mostly for his usual starters, but surprising was the inclusion of young Morteza Pouraliganji instead of the experienced Amir-Hossein Sadeghi in central defense, whereas Vouria Ghafouri played instead of the not fully fit Khosro Heydari on the right defensive side.

An interesting small tactical variation could be spotted in the midfield line of the 4-1-4-1, where Shojaei overtook the central midfield role and Ashkan Dejagah switched to the right side, thus also putting an end to the unusual position exchange habit between Dejagah and left midfielder Ehsan Hajsafi upon turnovers.

Late stunner by Hajsafi in first half

Iran began a bit nervous and Bahrain had the first couple of chances of the game, but Jaycee John’s volley and Sayed Shubbar’s header both were off target.

With 20 minutes gone, Iran had setteled and should have taken the lead when the often critisized but today brilliant Masoud Shojaei dribbled through midfield and sent Dejagah through on goal, but the today also very impressive Al Arabi midfielder hesitated too long and in the end was denied by the goalkeeper.

Apart from another header, which shouldn’t pose a real threat to Alireza Haghighi in Iran’s goal, it was all Iran for the rest of first half, but two denied offside goals, a Pouraliganji volley well wide of target and a Javad Nekounam freekick flying over the crossbar were the only outcome.

But Ehsan Hajsafi did it much better in injury time of first half.

The left-footer perfectly controlled a cleared corner kick just outside the box and unleashed a stunning right-footed shot which curled over the goalkeeper and into the net to give Iran the lead, just moments before the halftime whistle.

Shojaei deciding the match

Team Melli remained the more dangerous side after the break, but Reza Ghoochannejhad first was wrongfully called back due to alledged offside when through on goal before the Kuwait SC striker tried his luck from outside the box but failed to beat the keeper.

Bahrain’s by far most dangerous man, Nigerian-born Jaycee John, then unleashed a powerful but not too well placed shot from the edge of the area, but the once more flawless Haghighi was equal to it.

Shortly after the hourmark, it appeared as if Ghoochannejhad had doubled the lead, but the goal was ruled out due to a very close offside call.

But 70 minutes into the match there was no rescue for Bahrain.

With Alireza Jahanbakhsh already waiting at the sidelines, ready to replace him, Masoud Shojaei got to the end of an Andranik Teymourian corner and somehow curled it into the corner to make it 2-0.

The corner had been won thanks to a great individual effort by right-back Ghafouri, who had already won the corner kick leading to the opening goal as well.

Bahrain had two more promisin efforts in the dying minutes if the match, but first Jaycee John failed to get his try on target before Haghighi ended all hopes of Bahrain with a final save.

Iran stand in second position of the table after matchday one, trailing the UAE on goal difference after their surprisingly high 4-1 victory over Qatar – Iran’s next opposition on Thursday.

Iran – Bahrain 2-0 (1-0)
Asian Cup 2015, Group C, matchday 1, Melbourne

Goals:
1-0 Ehsan Hajsafi (45′)
2-0 Masoud Shojaei (70′ / Assist by Andranik Teymourian)

Iran’s lineup: 1 Haghighi – 11 Ghafouri, 4 Hosseini, 8 Pouraligani, 23 Pouladi – 6 Nekounam – 21 Dejagah (89′ 17 Rafiei), 14 Teymourian, 7 Shojaei (80′ 18 Jahanbakhsh), 3 Hajsafi – 16 Ghoochannejhad (75′ 20 Azmoun)

Iranian players booked: Ehsan Hajsafi

Official match MVP: Ehsan Hajsafi