Zandi scores his first goal for Team Melli

TEHRAN – FC Kaiserslautern midfielder Fereydoon Zandi scored his first international goal as Iran defeated Azerbaijan 2-1 in a warm-up for their 2006 World Cup qualifying double header against DPR Korea on June 3 and Bahrain five days later.

Zandi, making his fourth international appearance, opened his international account with a sublime ninth minute free-kick that swerved into the top right hand corner of Azerbaijan keeper Jahangir Hasanzade’s goal.

The German-born midfielder then hand a hand in setting up Iran’s second goal 20 minutes later, sliding the ball into the path of Vahid Hashemian, who like Zandi plies his trade in the Bundesliga, joining recently joining Hannover after spells with Bayern Munich, Bochum and Hamburg.

Hashemian delayed his shot but the chance wasn’t squandered as the ball found its way to the unmarked Javad Nekounam and the midfielder, who plays his club football with AFC Champions League quarter-finalists Pas, made no mistake.

Iran were the better side and could have had a hatful of goals in the first half but while they were guilty of wasting numerous opportunities, they also found Hasanzade in superb form.

With Iran coach Branko Ivankovic making a number of changes after the interval, Azerbaijan came back into the game and pulled one back through Neftchi Baku striker Gurban Gurbanov in the 67th minute.

However, despite a somewhat lackluster second half performance from the Iranians, Azerbaijan, coached by Brazil’s 1970 World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres, couldn’t find the equalizer as Iran enjoyed a morale boosting win ahead of Friday’s meeting with the North Koreans.