Iran Win’s The Game Against Uzbekistan
Team Melli faced Uzbekistan during the first match from World Cup Qualification Asian in Jar Stadium in Tashkent.
The head coach of Iran, Carlos Queiroz, surprised everyone with the squad where Heydari was replaced with Mahini and Ebrahimi was playing as Iran’s central forward with Hadi Aghili was benched in this game while Uzbekistan didn’t have some of its key players.
First 20 minutes of the game two sides were playing conservatively with keeping ball in the center of field. Using long out was one of the Iran’s tactics in these minutes. In 21′ Karpenko’s shoot saved by Iran’s GK. Inomov initiated several attacks from Iran’s right side. Uzbeks scored one goal in the first half but it was offside. Iranian goalkeeper, Rahmati, did some well saves helped Iran to keep the sheet clean. Rahmati the Esteghlal keeper made another sharp save barely six minutes later from Geynrikh, while the same player had the ball in the back of the net on 41 minutes, however it was disallowed for offside.
In the second half, Iran didn’t make any opportunities to open Uzbekistan’s goal. Even in some minutes, all the 11 Iranian players were playing in the penalty box. The Japanese referee, Nishimura, had good performance until 74′. In this minute Akhmedov scored a goal for his side but Nishimura rejected his goal. However the ball completely crossed the goal’s line.
Khalatbari who plays for Al Wasl, entered the game as sub in 62′ and the substitution was rewarded in 93′ when he scored a goal assisted by another sub Karim Ansarifard.
Rahmati appeared to have confirmed himself as man-of-the-match with another stellar save on 85 minutes to deny Timur Kapadze’s long-range drive before Khalatbari’s late winner. In another match from the Group A, Japan defeated Oman by scoring 3 goals. Honda, Maeda and Okazaki scored for Japan.
