Mehdi Mahdavikia in action for Iran AFP

A resurgent Iran continued Asia’s dominance of the AFC/OFC Challenge Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory against New Zealand in Tehran on Sunday. Two first half goals from Ali Karimi and a third from 17-year-old Hossein Kaabi gave the home side an easy victory in the contest played between the AFC (alternately the winners of the Asian Cup or Asian games) and OFC champions.

Although envisaged as a two-leg, home-and-away match, the Cup’s two editions - Japan defeated Australia 3-0 in the first two years ago – have been played in the country of the Asian champions.

The Iraq War and SARS virus left organisers with no alternative but to schedule the single match in Tehran in the only available slot - October. The odds were already stacked against the All Whites before coach Mick Waitt made the brave decision to take an inexperienced side to the Iranian capital, handing out three new caps to Che Bunce, Leo Bertos and Tony Lochhead. With 50,000 fans creating a barrage of noise in the intimidating Azadi stadium, it was certain to be a true test of their ability to cope with international football.

Those fans had even more to shout about as Iran not only welcomed back one of their top stars Mehdi Mahdavikia, who last played against the Republic of Ireland in the second-leg of the play-off for a spot at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, but also coach Branco Ivankovic, who had led Iran to that Asian Games title last year. The Croat was drafted in just ten days previously after Hooman Shahrokhi had been sacked following the disastrous away defeat to Jordan 2-3 in the Asian Cup.

After a near two-year absence, Mahdavikia was quick to endear himself to his legions of admirers. His stunning 25-yard drive mid-way through the first half was spilled by Kiwi keeper Mark Paston to the feet of Karimi who, without thinking twice, buried the rebound. The two players combined again eight minutes later as the Hamburg midfielder released Karimi. This time, the striker who plies his trade in the United Arab Emirates with Al Ahli, rounded the keeper before slotting the ball into an empty net.

With captain Ryan Nelsen in an unfamiliar midfield role, the All Whites were finding it difficult to keep possession against the fleet-footed Persians. And, inevitably, they made it 3-0 just after the hour when the nippy Kaabi lost his marker to slip the ball past Paston and send the home fans wild.

Captain Ali Daei could have made it four in the final minute but Paston superbly saved his left-foot strike.

After the match Iran coach Ivancovic said his only trick was to bring back the same tactics that had served the team so well at the 2002 Asian Games.

“This wasn’t a single person’s victory but the team’s. It was as if we breathed together," he said. “I hope that we will be even better against Lebanon and North Korea.”

In their first outing since June when they were convincingly beaten three times at the FIFA Confederations Cup, New Zealand boss Waitt was generous in further defeat.

"I’ve got to congratulate the Iranians," he said. "They have a good team and they deserved the cup."

Iran's soccer star Ali Daei (C) passes Jordan's Khalid al-Maltaah (R) to score the first goal during their Asian Cups Qualifiers at Azadi stadium in Tehran 05 September 2003. Iran won 4-1. AFP PHOTO Behrouz MEHRI

After months of discussion, a date has finally been set for the Challenge Cup, which pits the Asian champions against the champions of Oceania. The game is to be played in Tehran on 12 October between Iran, winners of the last Asian Games, and New Zealand, winners of the 2002 Oceania Nations Cup. Founded in 2001 and played every two years, the Challenge Cup is currently held by Japan. We take a look at this tantalising AFC/OFC face-off.

They say good things come to those who wait, and if that is the case this year’s Challenge Cup should be a cracker. Originally slated for March and April as a home and away double-header, the match between the champions of Oceania and the champions of Asia (alternately the Asian Games winners against the Asia Cup winners) was put back on the advice of FIFA due to the war in Iraq.

New Zealand then proposed September as a suitable date for the encounter: the All Whites were looking to bounce back after three defeats at the FIFA Confederations Cup France 2003. “The Confederations Cup taught us we need to play more international games and not just against other teams from Oceania,” said Kiwi CEO Bill MacGowan.

But the September slot proved unworkable. Finding a window for a home and away fixture proved a difficult task with both sets of players on club duty in different leagues all over the world and an already overcrowded international fixture calendar to accommodate.

A compromise of a single game, to be played in Tehran on 12 October, was finally reached, and most observers are predicting a keenly-fought encounter. New Zealand have made great strides in recent seasons, including their surprise victory over mighty neighbours Australia (1-0) in the 2002 Oceania Nations Cup, and their praiseworthy draw against Scotland (1-1) prior to the FIFA Confederations Cup France 2003. And even though this summer’s French campaign ended badly, individuals such as Michael Utting, Raf de Gregorio and Ryan Nelsen showed considerable potential.

Scotland's James McFadden (R) vies 27 May 2003 with New Zealand's Vaughn Coveny during their international friendly at Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh. AFP PHOTO Ian Stewart

In Ali Daei’s footsteps
As for Iran, although 2003 has not yet been a vintage year (2-1 loss to Belarus, 1-0 defeat to Iraq, but a resounding 4-1 win over Jordan), they have improved steadily over recent years. In 2002, the Asian champions held Uruguay (1-1) and Paraguay (1-1) and beat the Ukraine (1-0) away in Kiev. On their way to winning the Asian Games they overcame Korea (0-0, 5-3 on penalties) and Japan (2-1), both of whom were riding high after successful FIFA World Cup™ campaigns.

A sure sign of the strides Iran have made is the number of their internationals who now ply their trade abroad. Though most of the squad still grace the Iranian Championship, several have followed Ali Daei’s lead and sought fame and fortune overseas: Vahid Hashemian plays for Vfl Bochum (GER), Mehdi Mahdavikia turns out for Hamburg SV (GER) and Ali Karimi for Al Ahly, one of the biggest clubs in the UAE.

Iran and New Zealand have only met twice: in 1973 they fought out a 0-0 draw in Auckland and in 1978 the Iranians took the laurels in the President’s Cup (2-1). Things have obviously changed since the seventies though and it is hard to call a successor to Japan who bagged the first Challenge Cup trophy in 2001, rolling over Australia in Shizuoka (3-0).

One thing is certain however; neither side will be taking this game lightly. “Winning the Challenge Cup is important for the players, the supporters and Iranian communities all over the world. And we are representing Asia too, a responsibility we won’t be shirking,” affirms Iranian defender Yahya Golmohammadi. So will Asia or Oceania prevail in the clash of the continents? All will be revealed on 12 October.