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AFCAC - A 29th minute penalty from Javad
Nekounam coupled with a second half goal from Andranik Teymourian helped a
struggling Iran secure a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup by
narrowly beating resilient co-hosts Malaysia 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Needing to win convincingly in order to assure themselves of top spot in
Group C and claim a place in the tournament’s knockout phase, Iran were made
to work all the way by a heroic Malaysian outfit.
Despite constantly struggling to find a way past Malaysia’s massed ranks,
Uzbekistan’s 3-0 victory over China assured the Iranians of pole position
and they now face the prospect of a last eight meeting with Korea Republic
in Kuala Lumpur.
Iranian players and officials celebrated wildly at the final whistle, whilst
Malaysian heads were held high, with some pride restored following the South
East Asian outfit’s 5-1 loss to China and the 5-0 drubbing they suffered at
the hands of Uzbekistan.
Having called for a heroic rearguard action, Malaysia coach Norizan Bakar,
who kicked off with six recognised defenders in his starting 11, will have
been delighted with his charges’ overall resilience, although possibly
less pleased with the time and space afforded to Vahid Hashemian whose
close-range ninth minute shot from Teymourian’s cross was superbly turned
onto his bar and away to safety by Malaysia goalkeeper Azizon Kadir.
Three minutes later and Azizon was in the thick of things again as he dived
to deflect a fiercely struck Reza Enayati shot onto his right hand post.
Despite their early dominance, Iran failed to find a way through the home
side’s massed defence and nearly conceded themselves when Aidil Radzak burst
through a static Iranian backline, but the youngster’s shot was deflected
safely into the arms of Iran stopper Hassan Roudbarian.
The breakthrough came after 29 minutes. Ali Karimi’s well timed run into the
Malaysian box was checked illegally by Hussain Khaironissam according to
referee Muhsen Basma. Javad Nekounam, scorer of Iran’s equaliser against
China in a 2-2 draw, tucked away the resulting penalty with ease.
The Malaysian woodwork was rattled again only moments later when Rahman
Rezaei’s delicate headed cross was thumped against the bar by Hashemian.
Malaysia came close to equalising after 44 minutes when Shukor Adan’s
thrusting run down the right flank saw him find space to fire in a shot that
brought the best out of Roudbarian to send the home team into the break in a
buoyant mood.
With Malaysia continuing to fight for every blade of the Bukit Jalil
National Stadium turf, Iran had to wait until the 58th minute for their
first serious attempt of the half, Teymourian’s effort being tipped away
acrobatically by Azizon.
Substitute Rassoul Khatibi duly headed horribly wide from only five yards
before he was booked for attempting to win a penalty with a dramatic dive.
A long range pile driver from Hashemian was then gathered well by Azizon as
Malaysian bodies continued to thwart Iran, a terrific team spirit that was
epitomised in the 71st minute as Hamzani Omar reacted brilliantly to deny
Khatibi a clear attempt on goal.
Javad Kazemian’s lobbed effort on 75 minutes looped agonisingly wide before
Iran’s superior possession was turned into something more tangible three
minutes later when Teymourian converted a Mehdi Mahdavikia pass with
unerring accuracy to beat Azizon at his near post.
Karimi’s last gasp shot was turned onto the bar by Azizon, the save proved
to be the last meaningful action of a game which Iran may have won but from
which Malaysia emerged with plaudits galore.
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