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Iran Put An End to Kuwaiti Hopes of Topping Group A Kuwait City (September 26 , 1997) FINAL SCORE: IRAN 1 KUWAIT 1 Iran's Lineup: Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh, Mohammad Khakpour, Afshin Peervanni,Reza Shahroudi, Mehrdad Minavand, Ali Akbar Astad Asadi (sub),Mehdi Mahdavi Kia, Hamid Esteeli,Karim Bagheri,Karim Bagheri, Ali Reza Mansourian, Dariush Yazdani(sub), Ali Daie, Khodadad Azizi, Ali Asghar Modir Rousta Iran (White Jersey) Kuwait (Blue Jersey) The Iranian National Team and the Kuwaiti national team met in their first of two World Cup Qualifying matches. The game was held in Kuwait's Qadisiya Sports Club. The Kuwaiti supporters were ready to leave to their homes joyous of a definite victory against Iran when Karim Bagheri made certain that they leave with a memory of the Iranian team. It was a crucial game for both teams, but especially to Kuwait who had already lost a match to Saudi Arabia 2-1, and this was their first game on their own turf. Kuwait's first chance came in first half at 14th minute when Kuwait missed on a chance from a corner kick which was cleared by Iranian defencemen. Then in 15th minute another chance was missed by Kuwait when a solo effort by Bashar ended in Abed Zadeh's hands. His shot was powerful but Abed Zadeh was ready for it. The Kuwaiti team was able to score a goal early in the match, which many argue was an offside. The goal, in the 20th minute of the match, was scored by Kuwait's finest striker, 24 year old Jassim Al Houwaidi. He was the same player that scored twice 1996 Asian Cup to put Japan out of the semi-finals. The Kuwaiti goal was result of an interception by Bader Hajji in Kuwaiti zone, who in turn passed it to Houwaidi. Houwaidi then passed it to Wabran in the center. Wabran then played a long pass behind Iranian defensemen, hence the offside, giving Bashar the chance to get the ball and pass it to advancing Houwaidi. The Iranian players rightfully declared an off side but the line referee dismissed it. The first half ended 1-0 in favor of the host country. Meanwhile the Iranian crowd had been totally quiet and in sadness of their country's lack to score a goal. The second half was mostly Iranian. Iran is now officially the "Second Half Terminators". Constantly Ali Daie took the ball within meters of the goal but failed to score a goal. The superior Iranian offense constantly threw high balls over to the Kuwaiti penalty area, but every time there was a Kuwaiti defensemen to head it out. Both sides wasted many opportunities to score. But the best chance of the game, according even to Kuwaitis, was in 85th minute when Ali Daie missed a perfect opportunity to score from just three meters on an open goal! Instead of shooting in the net he passed to a colleague who shot in Kuwaiti goalkeeper's body. Kuwait knew that pressure was mounting on the defense and that Iran was very close to score an equalizer, so the team began to waste time. Constantly they passed senseless balls to each other with aim of wasting time, which could be very valuable to the Iranian team. As the Iranian and Kuwaiti crowd was about to leave, Modir Rousta headed a ball to Bagheri in the Kuwaiti penalty box, and Bagheri then shot it past the Kuwaiti goal keeper Khalid Al-Fadli and scored the equalizer! The stadium was suddenly quiet for a 10 seconds,but then the loud horns from Iranian side began to shake the stadium. The Kuwaitis, many whom had falsely assumed that Iran had lost and that Kuwait had won, were on their way to the parking lots. With the late Iranian goal, they were shocked, without any words! They at first just sat there and then began to "boo" the Kuwaiti team. Then things started to get a bit havoc as the Iranians and Kuwaitis exchanged some words with one another and threw bottles at one another. A Kuwaiti was injured in the process. The Iranian supporters
were positioned apart from the Kuwaitis from the start. About 6,000 Iranians
showed up in the 20,000 full stadium. The exchanges were very minor and there
were no incidents of fights or squirmishes outside the stadium. There was
however a pipe bomb that exploded outside the stadium. Other than that, both
sides returned On the field the Iranian team was celebrating! Mayeli Kohan ran to the stadium where he embraced Karim Bagheri, who is still feeling guilty for not scoring a penalty on the Saudis in Tehran. Meanwhile at a press conference following the match, many reporters criticized Kuwait coach, Milan Macala for substituting an experienced defencemen, Osama Hussein, in the final minutes. Macala put a younger player, Saleh Al-Braki in instead. Team members said to reporters, " It was a great game for the first 80 minutes, until Macala substituted Hussein for Al-Braki. This sowed confusion in our defense allowed the Iranians to score in over-time." Macala was pale in the press conference immediately following the match. He replied to accusations, "This is what I thought is suitable and had no relationship to the Iranian goal." Asked whether he would change anything for Kuwait's next game with China, he replied, " Why? We have 14 days to rest and practice before we meet China. We are only one point behind Iran." Just Tuesday Macala told reporters that he "guaranteed" a Kuwaiti win and that Kuwait would be first in Group A. Although Kuwait still has a great chance, it is not as certain as some of the other teams in group A. Saudi Arabia and Iran are still ahead of Kuwait. Iran remains in first place with 5 points leading the group, while, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have 4 points each. Next week Saudi Arabia meet China while Iran meets Qatar in Tehran. Iran are no doubt favorites to win this group. Iran and Kuwait will meet again on October 31st (Halloween) in the "Arena of Death", or commonly known as Tehran's Azadi stadium. Kuwait has never in its soccer history won a match on Iranian soil. Iran has not, in past 20 years, lost a match to foreign team in Azadi Stadium. Local Kuwaitis Newspapers Show the Anger and Frustrations that is Felt Today In Kuwait at their National Team. The Following is headlines from Arab Times (Kuwait) day after the match.
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