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06.September.2006 at 00:00
Asian Cup Qualifier
Al Abbassyin  Stadium , Damascus
Attendance : 10000
Referee: MATSUMARA Kazuhiko - Japan
Opponent Confederation: AFC
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Syria
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0 - 2
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Iran
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Referee: MATSUMARA Kazuhiko - Japan |
Asian Cup Qualifier-match |
Coach : Amir GHALENOEI
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A goal in each half from Mohammad Nosrati and Javad Nekounam put Iran's challenge for a place in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals back on track with a 2-0 win over Syria on Wednesday evening.
Javad Nekounam sealed Iran's win over Syria. [WSG]
Javad Nekounam sealed Iran's win over Syria. [WSG]
DAMASCUS - A goal in each half from Mohammad Nosrati and Javad Nekounam put Iran's challenge for a place in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals back on track with a 2-0 win over Syria on Wednesday evening.
After successive 1-1 draws with the Syrians and Korea Republic, the Iranians were desperate for a win to relieve some of the pressure on their qualifying campaign and they did that in the game which saw both sides finishing with ten men.
Nosrati put Iran in the lead in the 27th minute before Osasuna midfielder Nekounam doubled his side's advantage six minutes after the restart to move the three-time Asian champions closer to qualifying for next year's event in South East Asia.
Iran started the game powerfully as Syria goalkeeper Musab Balhous saved Nosrati's fifth minute shot before Tarek Jabban came to the rescue of the home side by clearing a powerful strike from Bayern Munich's Ali Karimi.
Attef Jenniat picked up an injury in the 13th minute and his replacement Wael Ayyan was the first Syrian to have a crack at goal when Iran keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour was forced to save the substitute's shot three minutes after he had entered the fray
Iran went a goal up in the 27th minute when Mohammed Nosrati rose highest in the penalty box to head home Mehdi Mahdavikia's free-kick.
Syria almost leveled the scores either side of half-time. Two minutes before the interval Firas Al Khatib's powerful drive was blocked by Italy-based defender Rahman Rezaei while Al Karama's Jehad Al Hussein grazed the woodwork with a shot from the edge of the area shortly after the restart.
Iran were stung into action by the near miss and increased their pressure on the Syrian goal with Nekounam and Vahid Hashemian coming close in the 52nd and 54th minutes respectively.
Just two minutes later the second goal came when Nekounam headed home Mahdavikia's 56th minute corner kick.
Syria tried to get back into the game and they nearly pulled a goal back in the 78th minute but Al Hussein's effort was saved by Mirzapour but their misery was compounded ten minutes later when defender Ali Dyab was sent off.
Iran were also reduced to ten men two minutes after Dyab had gone for an early bath when Amirhossein Sadeghi received his marching orders but neither sending off had any real impact on the game. |
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