Hat-trick of draws for Iran
TEHRAN – Iran remained winless in Group Five of the Asian World Cup qualifiers after being held to a goalless draw by group leaders United Arab Emirates at the Azadi Stadium on Monday. The draw kept UAE at the top of the group with five points, two ahead of the Iranians, who have been held to three consecutive draws so far in the qualifiers.
The home side dominated the first half but Ali Daei's men were unable to create any clear-cut chances for much of the time against an Emirates side content to sit back and absorb pressure. However the Iranian attacks became more dangerous in the last five minutes before the interval and Seyed Hadi Aghily nearly broke the deadlock when he met Masoud Shojaei’s corner from the right with a first-time shot that went over the crossbar.
TEHRAN – Iran remained winless in Group Five of the Asian World Cup qualifiers after being held to a goalless draw by group leaders United Arab Emirates at the Azadi Stadium on Monday. The draw kept UAE at the top of the group with five points, two ahead of the Iranians, who have been held to three consecutive draws so far in the qualifiers.
The home side dominated the first half but Ali Daei's men were unable to create any clear-cut chances for much of the time against an Emirates side content to sit back and absorb pressure. However the Iranian attacks became more dangerous in the last five minutes before the interval and Seyed Hadi Aghily nearly broke the deadlock when he met Masoud Shojaei’s corner from the right with a first-time shot that went over the crossbar.
Iran had a pair of quick chances a minute later as Hossein Kaebi’s cross from
the left was turned by Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht into the side netting and,
seconds later, Shojaei's shot from outside the area went wide. The home side
continued to ask the questions at the start of the second half and had another
opening two minutes after the restart as a free kick by Shojaei was turned wide
by Seyed Jalal Hosseini.
Iran threatened again in the 49th minute as Kaebi’s cross from the right was met with a powerful header by Vahedi Nikbakht that flew over the crossbar.
UAE responded three minutes later reply through Abdulraheem Juma, who received a pass from the left and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that shaved the right post. The visitors had an appeal for penalty on the hour when Aghily brought down Ismail Matar in the box but Korean referee Lee Gi-young was uninterested and allowed play to continue.
The Emirates had their best chance with 20 minutes remaining as a cross from the left by Juma picked out substitute Faisal Khalil, who headed wide.
Iran nearly stole a winner with five minutes remaining when skipper Javad Nekounam met a cross from the left with a powerful header that goalkeeper Majed Nasser did well to tip over for a corner.
Iran threatened again in the 49th minute as Kaebi’s cross from the right was met with a powerful header by Vahedi Nikbakht that flew over the crossbar.
UAE responded three minutes later reply through Abdulraheem Juma, who received a pass from the left and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that shaved the right post. The visitors had an appeal for penalty on the hour when Aghily brought down Ismail Matar in the box but Korean referee Lee Gi-young was uninterested and allowed play to continue.
The Emirates had their best chance with 20 minutes remaining as a cross from the left by Juma picked out substitute Faisal Khalil, who headed wide.
Iran nearly stole a winner with five minutes remaining when skipper Javad Nekounam met a cross from the left with a powerful header that goalkeeper Majed Nasser did well to tip over for a corner.
UAE, meanwhile, were content to play on the counter with substitute Faisal
Khalil wasting their best chance 20 minutes from the end and the result means
Iran are still searching for their first victory in Group Five ahead of the
return clash in Al-Ain on Saturday. However, a defiant Daei felt his
players deserved credit for their display and underlined only wasteful finishing
prevented them from triumphing after a small minority of fans called for the
39-year-old to resign just three months into his reign as national team boss.
"I did my job as the coach," he said. "I prepared the players to win but a coach can't put on the kit and go onto the pitch and score goals. We needed more luck.
"We played the better football and we had more chances, which we didn't take. "I knew the United Arab Emirates would come to counter attack and I told that to the players. They shut down the space in the middle so we had to attack down the wings.
"That's football and we're used to it. I'm optimistic that we'll beat them (on Saturday). We're only interested in taking three points from the last three matches."
UAE coach Bruno Metsu, meanwhile, was far happier with a point that ensures his side will at least enjoy a share of top spot in Group Five and paid tribute to a resilient defensive performance from the visitors.
Luck was against us, says Daei
"I did my job as the coach," he said. "I prepared the players to win but a coach can't put on the kit and go onto the pitch and score goals. We needed more luck.
"We played the better football and we had more chances, which we didn't take. "I knew the United Arab Emirates would come to counter attack and I told that to the players. They shut down the space in the middle so we had to attack down the wings.
"That's football and we're used to it. I'm optimistic that we'll beat them (on Saturday). We're only interested in taking three points from the last three matches."
UAE coach Bruno Metsu, meanwhile, was far happier with a point that ensures his side will at least enjoy a share of top spot in Group Five and paid tribute to a resilient defensive performance from the visitors.
TEHRAN - Iran coach Ali Daei felt his side were unfortunate
not to claim all three points after they were held to a goalless draw by the UAE
in their World Cup qualifying clash at Azadi Stadium on Monday.