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AFC - The Chinese Olympic side put their
aspirations of qualifying for Athens 2004 back on track after scoring their
first victory of the Asian Football Qualifiers 2004 with a determined 3-1
win against Iran.
With Korea Republic storming to the top of the group with three consecutive
wins, a draw would not have suited either party, and China and Iran showed
plenty of determination to go for all three points in an effort to edge
closer to Kim Ho-kun's side.
As it transpired, the fervent search for victory led to both teams resorting
to several rash tackles in a tempestuous opening to the match.
China striker Lu Feng was guilty of squandering two good scoring chances
shortly after the kick-off, putting a header straight at the Iranian
goalkeeper and lofting the ball over the bar less than a minute later.
While China had the early sight of the opposition goal, it was Iran that
went ahead thanks to a lucky break eight minutes into the game.
A searching ball was sent into the China penalty area and although it was
comfortably cleared, Moharram Nadvidkia's chase for the loose ball forced a
Chinese player outside the area to inadvertantly send it back over
goalkeeper An Qi's head and into the net.
China needed a change of luck and it arrived just three minutes later.
Defender Du Wei had put a header against the crossbar but the Shanghai
Shenhua star was deemed to have been fouled by an Iranian defender, as the
referee pointed to the spot to the delight of the Chinese players.
China needed cool nerves under the circumstances and Dalian Shide defender
Zhang Yaokun, slotted the ball coolly into the bottom right corner.
The pulsating affair looked like it was going to boil over on several
occasions, as poor tackling across the pitch from both teams forced the
official to stop play.
China's clear advantage in height did not seemingly deter Iran from opting
to go the aerial route with Iran skipper Ali Alizadeh on two occasions
during the opening period choosing to launch long throw-ins from the left
flank, with An standing strong each time to nullify the danger.
The 1-1 scoreline at half-time would have pleased the Korean camp, and poor
tackling continued to plague the game after the break with Sun Xiang's rash
lunge at Kaebi showing China's desperation.
Central midfielders Hu Zhaojun and Xu Liang blossomed as the minutes ticked
by, instilling steel in the middle of the park as they quashed the Iranian
threats orchestrated by the Foolad duo Eman Mobali and Hossein Kaebi.
That strength contributed to China's progressive dominance in the game with
Wang Sheng missing at the far post in the 52nd minute before the unmarked
duo of Yan Song and Du both astonishingly missed a cross seven minutes
later.
Iran lost their creative touch in the face of China's resolve, Mohammad
Mayelikohan's team shooting from range on numerous occasions when a
calculated move into the China penalty area would have suited them better.
Then with 20 minutes left on the clock, Yu Tao picked up a throw-in on the
left flank, eluded a desperate Iranian lunge in the box and sent in a low
cross for Gao Ming to fire home.
With Iran unable to find their usual rhythm, China went in search for more
goals.
Du had been a tower of strength in defence all match long but tension filled
the Wuhan Stadium terraces when he fell awkwardly in the 79th minute and had
to briefly leave the field. However, he was to returned with devastating
effect.
China won a corner at the other end while Du was receiving treatment, and
fellow Shanghai star Sun Xiang withheld his delivery until his clubmate
returned to the pitch. Sun then lofted the ball into a packed Iran penalty
area and Du met the ball well only to see it bounce off the underside of the
crossbar and back into play.
However, Sun sent the ball in a second time and this time, Du powered the
ball into the net to round off an excellent personal performance.
China now have four points from three games, moving ahead of Iran into
second place in Group A with three matches to play.
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