Team Melli defeated Turkmenistan 3-1 in the group D match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 Asian Zone qualifiers.

The first half of the match in Azadi stadium ended with Iran ahead by one goal scored by Morteza POURALIGANJI . In the second half, two more goals from Saeid EZZATOLLAHI (64′) and Ashkan DEJAGAH (pen.) (82′) sealed a win for Team Melli. Turkmenistan’s goal was credit to Mekan Saparov 62′ after a serious blunder by Alireza Haghighi in goal.

experimental team

Iran’s line up resembled an experimental team in such an important match. It seems that Carlos Queiroz took a calculated risk and his confidence in the young team was duly answered by his players most of who had very few international games in their credit. Queiroz gave a debut to Ezzatollah POURGHAZ , the Malavan Anzali central defender to partner another relatively inexperienced defender in Morteza POURALIGANJI. Those changes in defense were forced upon Queiroz due to injuries to both his defenders Hosseini and Montazeri.

As predicted, Iran took the control of the match from onset and the early goal from a corner by  Ashkan DEJAGAH met by a powerful header from the central defender Morteza POURALIGANJI, eased the pressure on the team. Iran midfield players did quite a fine job in the match with Mehdi Torabi showing once a gain his quality and promises of greater things to come. Full of running , finesse and amazing work rate, Torabi was the star of the half. It was petty that some of his work went to waste due to less the ideal finishing by his teammates.

second half

The second half was much the same, with Ebrahimi , Torabi, Ezatollahei and Dejagah ensuring that the opponents don’t get much ball possession as they seemed to be dangerous in their counter.
On the stroke of the hour passed, a serious blunder by Iran’s keeper  Haghighi  resulted in Turkmenistan scoring the equalizer and turning the stadium into silence. The goal came from a corner kick sent close to the advancing Haghighi who completely misjudged the flight of the ball as he hit the air  for the ball wto reach the waiting Mekan Saparovwho without any defenders to mark him. The Turkman player had the easiest of tasks, simply touching the ball inside the net.

It was a disappointing goal and very much against the run of the match, however a minute later, Saeid EZZATOLLAHI  restored Iran’s lead deservedly with a brilliant goal. After some skirmishes on the Turkmenistan box, EZZATOLLAHI  had the control the ball , and with a clever turn , passed his marker and sent a curve ball to the far right of Mamad Orazmuhamedov in Turkmenistan goal. 2 -1 for Iran and the fans breathed with a sigh of relief.

Turkmenistan tried quite hard to get some result and to their credit they displayed some remarkable resilience and skills especially from the flanks, but the Iranian defense stood strong not allowing much balls to penetrate towards Haghighi.

The final break came in the 81st minute when Reza GHOOCHANNEJAD was fouled from behind for the Korean referee to whistle for a penalty. Team Melli’s Captain for the day  Ashkan DEJAGAH  scored with ease to make it 3-1.

 

shortcomings

Team Melli played quite well despite the low experience. It is certainly a work in progress and there are gaps that has to be modified. The goalkeeper has left a lot to be desired. Haghighi , once again showed everyone and stubborn Queiroz himself, why it is important for a player to play regular competitive football for his club as a major condition to be selected for the national team. Haghighi has not played a single league game this season, yet he is No. 1 keeper for Iran. Queiroz need to come to his senses and his modify his dogmatic attitude.

The other shortcoming of this team , has little to do with the coaching staff or Queiroz and much to do with the players themselves. The final ball and the finishing was quite a setback and disappointing.  Iran could have been 4 goals up within a couple of minutes just before the Turkmenistan equalizer. Two identical misses from identical situations in both times Kaveh Rezaei and then Mehdi Torabi missed open goals and shot wide after the initial ball hit the Turkmenistan woodwork and rebound back to them.  Ashkan DEJAGAH despite his goal and assist was guilty of many poor last balls and committed many errors. Vahid Amiri had an off day as well and was substituted in the second half with the energetic AliReza JAHANBAKHSH who played well and created more than 4 scoring chances.

promising

At the end , it was three sweet points for Iran taking it to the top of the group ahead of Oman on goal difference and a good show from a group inexperienced players however a promising bunch and a delight to watch.

  

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IRAN is looking to improve their standing in the group by beating their stubborn and resolute northern neighbors in the FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers match to be held in Azadi on Thursday.

After their disappointing draw at the start of the competition against Turkmenistan, Team Melli is determined to make amends and grab all the 3 points at home. Turkmenistan itself is still in the running with a chance to qualify and genuinely believe that their team has as good chance as both Oman and Iran to book a ticket to the next round. A win in Tehran, although not a guarantee for qualification, will ensure Turkmenistan stands firm in the table and look forward to get the maximum points of the home games in order to qualify.

Iran, surprisingly, never found it easy to beat Turkmenistan. Despite the huge difference in the status of the two countries football, with Iran being champion at all levels with historic achievements, Turkmenistan has not reached anywhere near what Iran has achieved. Yet , all that aside, the Turkmen have always put up a good fight against the Persians as if it is a matter of national pride. The last time the two teams met in Turkmenistan, the host could have come out as winners after starting poorly and conceding an early goal by Sardar Azmoun.

Although Team Melli played well that day and started very strongly, the performance faded away as the match went on. As a result of that , the defence line were caught napping right at the stroke of half time as Ruslan Mingazov punished Iran when he scored passed the hapless Haghighi. The goal was due to poor marking and feeble goalkeeping. It was a disappointing draw for Team Melli. This time Queiroz is determined to change the game plan and take advantage of the home crowd support to go forward with sustain offensive pressure while limiting the guest team’s  infiltration into the Iranian box. The game plan is dependent on a strong showing by the midfield feeding the front line while the flanks causing disturbances through those crosses for the forwards.

The absence of Sardar Azmoun is disappointing, however, Reza Ghoochannejad and Karim Ansarifard are back in the squad and should be more than capable to fill the gap left by Azamoun’s absence. Despite Ansarifard’s disappointing season and lack of playing time in Spain,  he is a capable forward who can easily bounce back. Ansarifard is enjoying playing football in the Greek league and could turn out to be a game changer given a chance against Turkmenistan.

Team Melli must get it right this time against the tough Turkmen team, a slip up will be costly.

No major changes in the team is expected apart from the non-availability of the 3 injured players.

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FIFA Rankings

Iran: 43

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Turkmenistan: 121

 

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Form Guide

FIFA World Cup 2018

Asian Zone Qualifiers

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Iran: W-D-W-D-W

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Turkmenistan: W–W–L-D-L

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Head-to-head record

Dead Even between the two teams.

 

Date	Comp.	H / A / N	Final score	Stadium	Attendance
16.06.2015	World Cup Qualifier	A	1 – 1	Garaşsyzlyk Stadium , Dashoguz	10000
25.11.1996	Friendly	H	0 – 1	Azadi – Tehran	15000
28.04.1996	Friendly	A	0 – 1	Ishq Abad	30000
26.04.1996	Friendly	A	1 – 1	Ishq Abad	10000
05.10.1994	Asian Games	N	1 – 1	Hiroshima	7000
14.06.1993	ACO Cup	H	2 – 1	Azadi – Tehran	15000
08.06.1993	ACO Cup	H	2 – 1	Azadi – Tehran	15000

 

 

	IRAN	TURKMENISTAN
P	7	7
W	2	2
D	3	3
L	2	2
GF	7	7
GA	7	7
GD	0	0

 

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IRAN

THE SQUAD

	GOALKEEPERS
1	HAGHIGHI, Alireza
	AKHBARI, Mohammadreza
2	BIRANVAND, Alireza
3	MAKANI, Sousha
	DEFENDERS
4	MOHAMMADI, Milad
5	HAJSAFY, Ehsan
6	HEYDARI, Khosrow
7	POURALIGANJI, Morteza
	KAMYABINIA, Kamal
8	KANANI, Mohammad Hossein
9	MONTAZERI, Pejman
	MIDFIELD
10	EBRAHIMI, Omid
11	TEYMOURIAN, Andranik
12	EZZATOLLAHI, Saeid
13	TORABI, Mehdi
14	REZAEIAN, Ramin
15	JAHANBAKHSH, AliReza
16	DEJAGAH, Ashkan
17	SHOJAEI, Masoud
	FORWARDS
18	TAREMI, Mehdi
19	AMIRI, Vahid
20	REZAEI, Kaveh
21	GHOOCHANNEJAD, Reza
22	ANSARIFARD, Karim

 

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TURKMENSITAN

 

Goalkeepers:

1. Mämmet Orazmuhammedow – «Altyn Asyr»
2. Sergeý Kuznesow – «Aşgabat»

   • Defense

3. Serdar Annaorazow – «Altyn Asyr»
4. Bahtiýar Hojaahmedow – «Altyn Asyr»
5. Şöhrat Söyünow – «Altyn Asyr»
6. Mekan Saparow – «Balkan»
7. Ýagmyrmyrat Annamyradow – «Balkan»
8. Zafar Babajanow – «Ahal»
9. Akmyrat Jumanazarow – HTTU

   • Midfielders:

10. Ahmet Ataýew – «Altyn Asyr»
11. Umidjan Astanow – «Altyn Asyr»
12. Guwanç Abylow – «Hazyna»
13. Suleýman Orazow – «Ahal»
14. Amir Gurbani – «Balkan»
15. Serdar Geldiýew – «Altyn Asyr»
16. Arslanmyrat Amanow – «Almalyk» (Uzbekistan)
17. Suleýman Muhadow – «Altyn Asyr»

    • Forwards

18. Serdarali Ataýew – «Balkan»
19. Didar Durdyýew – «Hazyna»
20. Berdi Şamyradow – «Aşgabat»

 

 

 

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 Coaches

Iran: Carlos QUEIROZ

Despite his almost regular battles with everyone around, Queiroz remains focused on Team Melli and has enjoyed the support of his players. The fan’s support seems to be fluctuating and if the attendances at Azadi is a thermometer for the team and the coach ,then it is disappointing. Queiroz has taken Iran to the World Cup finals in 2014 and the Asian Cup 2015 but did not manage to guide the team beyond the first round in Brazil while loosing in a penalty shootout against Iraq in the Asian Cup quarter finals.

Queiroz seems to be well versed with his player’s abilities and has given the team a boost in selecting young and aspiring players after the Asian Cup 2014. Queiroz has  a tendency to stick to names rather than performance.  The two major shortcomings in this capable coach is, technically where he seems to be unable of turning a bad team performance around as witnessed in the Turkmenistan and Oman matches, while behavior wise, his outbursts and demeanour could be unsettling to the players on the pitch.

In all, Carlos Queiroz has what it takes to win this match.

 

 

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Turkmenistan: Amangylych KOCHUMOV 

This local coach has enjoyed success at juniors level. He was the coach of the U-16 team to nearly 10 years. Under the coaching of Koçumow in the International Youth Games of the CIS and Baltic States in 2002 in Moscow, he guided Turkmenistan, into the quarter finals. It was considered as an achievement and Koçumow was appointed as head coach of Turkmenistan national team.

He does not lack any confidence and is tactically an astute coach. He believes in solid defense from the days of his Soviet playing years. He has built Turkmenistan around that philosophy and thus it has worked for him as the opponents find penetrating that Turkmen defence to be hard.

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Officials

Referee: KIM Dong Jin (KOR)

Assistant Referee 1: CHOI Min Byoung (KOR)

Assistant Referee 2: BANG Gi Yeol (KOR)

Fourth Official: Aziz ASIMOV (UZB)

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