FIFAWORLDCUP - Iran
outclassed fellow FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers Costa Rica in the first
half of a friendly on Wednesday before being forced to fight hard to
secure a 3-2 win.
Iran's early waves of attack paid dividends in the ninth minute when
Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi sidestepped his marker and slid the ball
under Costa Rica keeper Alvaro Mesen.
Veteran striker Ali Daei, international football's leading goalscorer,
added to his tally in the 16th minute, thumping home a cross from
Hanover 96's Vahid Hashemian from close range.
Mesen fumbled a scorching 25-yard shot from Daei in the 34th minute and
Hashemian toed the loose ball into the net for 3-0. Moments later Mesen
fluffed a catch from a Karimi free-kick and almost gifted Iran a fourth.
Carlos Hernandez offered Costa Rica hope just before half-time, rifling
a ball from the edge of the penalty area past Iranian keeper Ebrahim
Mirzapour.
A more focused Costa Rica looked far more dangerous in the second half
and the game picked up momentum in the 60th minute when Dany Fonseca
looped a header over Mirzapour.
Costa Rica fired twice over the Iranian bar in the last five minutes but
were unable to salvage an equaliser.
