JAVAD KAZEMIAN ...The savior

Iran opens Asian Cup 2007 with a 2-1 win

KUALA LUMPUR – Substitute Javad Kazemian scored 13 minutes from time as Group C favourites Iran came from a goal down to beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in their opening match of the AFC Asian Cup at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday.

The Uzbeks went in front through a Rahman Rezaei own goal after 15 minutes but Iran battled back after the break, levelling the score through Seyed Jalal Hosseini’s 55th minute header before Kazemian sprinted clear to net the late winner.

The victory put the Iranians level on points with group leaders China, who hammered co-hosts Malaysia 5-1 on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan created the first chance of the match in the fifth minute as Timur Kapadze stole between two defenders to reach a Vitaliy Denisov cross, only to put his header straight at Iran goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian.

Iran manufactured an opening of their own two minutes later when Ali Karimi’s defence-splitting pass released Vahid Hashemian on the right side of the area, the Hannover 96 striker firing in a shot that was well stopped by Uzbek goalkeeper Pavel Bugalo.

Bugalo was called into action again two minutes later he rushed off his line to gather the ball at the feet of Hashemian as the Iranian forward cut into the area from the right flank.

Both sides were still settling into their stride when Uzbekistan took the lead following a calamitous error by Rezaei.

Chasing a hopeful long ball lofted forward by Denisov, the Livorno defender appeared to have the beating of Ulugbek Bakaev as he headed the ball back towards goal from the edge of the box.

But Roudbarian had strayed off his line and the ball looped over a helpless goalkeeper to hand Uzbekistan the lead.

The central Asian side nearly extended their lead eight minutes later when a free-kick from the right by skipper Server Djeparov found Kapadze, whose unchallenged header went agonisingly wide of Roudbarian’s right post.

Two minutes before the break, a cross from the left by Hashemian found an unmarked Rassoul Khatibi, who headed wide from inside the area.

Kazemian came on at the break for Khatibi and the right winger’s introduction helped to spur the Iranians to life as they levelled the score 10 minutes into the second half.

Iran skipper Mehdi Mahdavikia swung in a corner from the left and Hosseini rose majestically above the Uzbek defence to meet the ball with a downward header that just crept in at the far post.

Iran turned up the heat and went close to taking the lead five minutes after the hour mark when an excellent run and cut back by Kazemian was hacked clear by Aleksey Nikolaev just before reaching a lurking Javad Nekounam.

Nekounam would get another chance three minutes later as Kazemian made another fine run down the right flank and crossed for the Osasuna midfielder, who headed straight at Bugalo.

For all of Iran’s pressure, it was the Uzbek’s who nearly went back in front with 18 minutes remaining as Djeparov lofted the ball over the Iranian defence to Kapadze, who saw his effort stopped by the feet of the onrushing Roudbarian.

Iran netted the winning goal five minutes later as Teymourian’s fine defence-splitting through ball released Kazemian, who drilled a low shot past the advancing Bugalo from just inside the area.

The game heated up in the closing minutes and Iran coach Amir Ghalanoei was sent-off from the bench with six minutes remaining by Kuwaiti referee Saad Kameel Al Fadhli after throwing a water bottle at the fourth official.

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Iran 2-1 Uzbekistan:

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Reuters) - Substitute Javad Kazemian struck in the 77th minute to give Iran a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in their Asian Cup Group C match on Wednesday.



The 26-year-old rescued a largely disappointing Iran side, who struggled to find their rhythm against the combative Central Asians.

Uzbekistan, with main striker Maksim Shatskikh suspended, took the lead on 15 minutes through an own goal by Iran defender Rahman Rezaei.

Iran levelled in the 55th minute when Seyed Jalal Hosseini scored from a corner before Kazemian emerged as the hero.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team's superior fitness was the key.

'When I took over this team, my first priority was to improve fitness levels,' he told reporters. 'After 60 minutes, that was when we really started to dominate Uzbekistan because our players were fit and able to compete better.

'Uzbekistan prepared well and it was difficult getting used to the heat in Kuala Lumpur but I am satisfied to have a win in our first game.'

The victory put Iran in second place in Group C behind China, who beat hosts Malaysia 5-1 on Tuesday. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals.

With both teams playing cautiously, Uzbekistan took an unlikely lead. Captain Server Djeparov sent a high ball forward trying to find striker Ulugbek Bakaev.

Rezaei, under pressure from Bakaev, tried to head back to goalkeeper Hassan Rodbarian but only succeed in finding the back of his own net.

Iran came out more determined in the second half and equalised after captain Mehdi Mahdavikia made his first foray upfield.

The skipper sent in a testing corner from the left and defender Hosseini rose high to head past Uzbek goalkeeper Pavel Bugalo.

Kazemian settled it for Iran when he received Andranik Teymourian's through ball on the edge of the box and drilled it past Bugalo.

Tempers frayed on the sidelines towards the end of the match with Ghalenoei sent to stands by Kuwaiti referee Saad Al Fadhli for apparently throwing a water bottle at the fourth official, though the coach said his anger was directed at one of his players.