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AFP - IRAN has survived an early scare to
defeat Uzbekistan 2-1 at the Asian Cup finals, in so doing taking a big step
towards the knockout stages.
Defender Rahman Rezaei put the three-time Asian Cup champion in trouble with
a first-half own goal before Seyed Jalal Hosseini equalised and substitute
Javad Kazemian secured the points with a late winner.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei meanwhile lived up to his combustible reputation
when he was sent to the stands late in the match.
Iran trails China in Group C on goal difference, with the top two teams
progressing to the quarter-finals. The teams play each other in Kuala Lumpur
on Sunday, with the fixture likely to decide which team tops the group.
Uzbekistan was the first side to threaten in front of a paltry crowd at the
National Stadium, with Timur Kapadze meeting a cross from the left only to
head the ball straight at Iran goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian.
Iran striker Vahid Hashemian, running on to a pass from Ali Karimi, then
tested Uzbekistan goalkeeper Pavel Bugalo with a left-footed effort in the
opening exchanges.
But Rezaei put Iran in serious difficulty on 16 minutes when, under pressure
from striker Ulugbek Bakaev, he nodded a hopeful bouncing ball over the
advancing Roudbarian.
Iran struggled to produce meaningful chances, and Uzbekistan almost doubled
its lead when Kapadze headed wide from a free kick hoisted in to the penalty
area by captain Server Djeparov.
Iran could have equalised near half-time, but Al Emarat striker Rassoul
Khatibi glanced his header wide from Hashemian's cross.
Iran emerged from the break with renewed purpose, and the regional
heavyweight was back on equal terms within 10 minutes, after Hosseini headed
captain Mehdi Mahdavikia's corner down and into the net.
Reza Enayati then looked odds-on to put Iran in front when he met a
drag-back, but his shot was scrambled wide.
Osasuna midfield player Javad Nekounam headed straight at Bugalo and Kapadze
had a one-on-one effort parried away by Roudbarian as the game sprang to
life.
Half-time substitute Kazemian snatched the three points for Iran, running on
to Andranik Teymourian's through ball and finishing coolly with his right
foot on 77 minutes.
Iran is bidding to break a 31-year title drought after winning three in a
row between 1968 between 976. Its has since failed to make a final despite
reaching the semi-finals on five occasions.
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