Archive : 2012
Team Melli stole a crucial three points away from home despite the White Wolves dominating the chances and having a Odil Akhmedov goal controversially disallowed
(Reuters) – Substitute Mohammad Khalatbari scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snatch a controversial and fortunate 1-0 away win for Iran over suspension-struck Uzbekistan in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
Having created nothing during the 90 minutes, the visitors produced a devastating swift break with their last attack which Khalatbari calmly concluded by slotting a left-foot shot home after being sent clear by Karim Ansari.
The opening Group A result was harsh on the home side, who were left enraged when they were not awarded a goal in the 75th minute by the Japanese referee despite Odil Akhmedov’s effort appearing to cross the line.
After a scramble in the penalty area, marauding defender Akhmedov struck a shot from inside the six-yard box which Iran defender Seyed Hosseini, standing behind the goalline, blocked and then cleared.
Referee Yuichi Nishimura and his assistants waved away the loud claims from the home side, who only had themselves to blame for not taking the lead earlier after wasting several chances.
Uzbeki striker Alexander Geynrikh was the worst offender, twice failing to convert when clean through in the first half, although Iran goalkeeper Seyed Rahmati did well to block.
Rahmati’s best save, however, came in the 23rd minute when he strongly blocked Victor Karpenko’s powerful left-foot drive from eight metres out.
Uzbekistan were missing five players, including Asian player-of-the-year Server Djeparov, through suspension after FIFA found them guilty of deliberately gaining yellow cards in the previous stage to avoid carrying over bans into the fourth round.
Uzbekistan next take on Lebanon on Friday.
Iran, along with South Korea, are seeded to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil from the five-team group also containing 2022 hosts Qatar.
No FIFA action over unseen Uzbek ‘goal’
June 05, 2012 09:58 PM
SINGAPORE: Football chiefs have ruled out taking action after Uzbekistan were apparently denied a legitimate goal during their 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Iran.
World body FIFA said the referee’s decision was final despite TV replays which indicated the ball crossed the line deep into the second half of Sunday’s game in Tashkent.
Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov later complained that Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura missed what should have been a goal. Iran scored in the dying seconds to snatch a dramatic win.
But a FIFA spokesman told AFP the laws of the game stated that a referee’s decision could not be overturned.
“The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match are final,” he quoted the rule-book as saying.
“The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.”
The controversy recalls Ireland’s loud but unsuccessful appeal after TV replays showed French striker Thierry Henry handled in the build-up to a vital goal in their play-off for the 2010 World Cup.
It also evokes memories of Uzbekistan’s bid to reach the 2006 edition, which ended on a sour note after a refereeing blunder during the first leg of their play-off with Bahrain.
The Uzbeks, who won the game 1-0, complained that the referee had wrongly chalked off a successful penalty for encroachment, instead of ordering a re-take as the rules dictate.
FIFA ordered a replay, which ended 1-1. The second leg was drawn 0-0, but Bahrain went through to an intercontinental play-off on the away goals rule. Uzbekistan are yet to reach a World Cup finals.
Meanwhile FIFA is currently trialling goal-line technology aimed at settling arguments about whether a ball has crossed the line or not.
In Sunday’s incident, Odil Ahmedov’s close-range shot on 74 minutes was parried by defender Seyed Hosseini — who also appeared to use his arm