Fcbayern - Bayern
newcomer Vahid Hashemian spent three years in
self-imposed international exile, refusing to play for
Iran after a bitter dispute with the local association.
But the 28 year-old eventually relented after listening
to pleas from home fans and resumed his national career
in September.
That decision paid off in spades on Wednesday as Iran
kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World
Cup with a 3-2 victory over Qatar in Doha, the Reds
striker emerging as man of the match with two goals.
Hashemian found the net after just nine minutes, only for
Meshaal Mubarak to equalise on 18 minutes before Mubarak
Mustafa put Qatar in front with a quarter of an hour
remaining. Arash Borhani struck a 78th minute equaliser
before Hashemian's moment of glory, an 89th minute winner
to put the Iranians in an optimal position going into the
final Asia Group 1 match on 17 November at home to bottom
team Laos.
Over in European qualifying Group 6, England faced a
potentially tricky trip to Azerbaijan. Sven Goran
Eriksson's men continued their winning run, a Michael
Owen header on 80 minutes proving enough for victory on a
wild and windy night in Baku. Bayern midfielder Owen
Hargreaves should have energy to spare for Saturday's
meeting with Schalke as he spent the match on the bench.
The Dutch had a point to prove after a disappointing 2-2
draw with Macedonia in midweek and Marco van Basten's men
duly responded with a 3-1 defeat of Finland in Amsterdam.
The Scandinavians poached the lead thanks to Teemu Tainio
on 14 minutes, but a double-quick double strike from
Wesley Sneijder (39) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (41) saw the
home side go in at the interval with their noses in
front. Van Nistelrooy settled the issue with his second
on 63 minutes. Bayern striker Roy Makaay came on after 77
minutes for Romeo Castelen.
Brazil experienced exactly the opposite fortunes to the
Dutch, following up a 5-2 gala victory over Venezuela at
the weekend with a dour goalless draw against Colombia in
Maceio. Zé Roberto played the first 84 minutes before
giving way to Edu, but Lucio spent a second international
in a row on the bench.
Over in Asuncion, Paraguay met Peru although the Bayern
contingent was decimated by injuries to the home nation's
Roque Santa Cruz and the visitors' captain Claudio
Pizarro. Instead, Paolo Guerrero began as a substitute
for the Peruvians. Paraguay took a 20th minute lead
through Carlos Paredes, but Guerrero came on for Andres
Mendoza after 67 minutes and immediately made an impact.
The Bayern reserve striker fell under a challenge from
the Paraguay keeper after 74 minutes, Aston Villa man
Nolberto Solano converting the ensuing penalty to earn
his side a 1-1 draw.
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