Team Melli started a new era under coach Marc Wilmots with an empathetic 5-0 win against the tough Syrian National team in Azadi Stadium on Thursday.
In a day full of positives, Mehdi Taremi scored a stunning hat trick including a goal with a reverse scissors kick each side of Alireza Jahanbakhsh goal and debutant Allahyar Sayyadmanesh . It seems that the absent of the top Iranian forward of the season, Sardar Azmoun , Saman Ghoddos and Ashkan Dejagah was not much of a concern for Team Melli.
Jahanbakhsh scored the opener with a clever slotted ball finish, while the teenager made his debut minutes earlier scored the fifth goal to seal the match and mark a memorable day for Team Melli.
Not many teams in the world can claim a 5 goal margin win against Syria, a team with physical strength and mental toughness that has been passed on for generations.
Despite having most of the ball possession, Team Melli did not really threaten Ahmad Madania in the Syrian goal. It took a cleaver steal from Alireza Jahanbaksh, who had a season to forget in the English Premiere league, right inside the Syrian box and a clever shimmy followed by an accurate ball to the far end of Madania for Team Melli to strike on the half hour.
7 minutes after Jahanbakhsh’s goal it was the turn of Mehdi Taremi to start recording a historic match for himself, a match that he will cherish for a long time. The opener for Taremi was the result of a clever back heel pass by Ansarifard slicing open the tough Syrian defence for Taremi to receive the pass, take his time to round the keeper and slot the ball in.
The first half finished with a 2 goals lead for Team Melli. At no time in the half was there any indication that this will be an easy win for Team Melli as the physically strong and tough tackling Syrians gave little breathing space for the host.
The tough tackling had its first casualty, though in Majid Hosseini who was tackled hard and fell on the ground with a suspected dislocated shoulder in the second half. Kanani-Zadegan took Hosseini’s place in the central of defense.
Mehdi Taremi was on the roll as he scored his second in a spectacular fashion. The type of goals the fans love to watch and the TV to broadcast over and over again. His overhead scissors kick wrong footed the Syrian keeper whose desperate attempt failed to stop the ball hitting the net. The Al Gharafa forward scored his second and Iran’s third goal.
From this moment, it became clear that the Syrians were deflated. 3-0 was a big margin for such a proud and never says die team. They have never been beaten by an Iranian team with a 3 goals margin and although they have not given up per se, there were signs of gaps developing in their midfield and defense while the star forward Omar Al Somah had very little support up front. The Syrian defensive cover work seemed crack sometimes too easily.
Team Melli took full advantage of that and Taremi, once again was on the score sheet. His third was scored with a nice header from an acute angle. The fully stretched Madania managed to touch the ball but it had too much pace and Taremi completed his hat trick. Iran 4 Syria 0
And the icing on the cake was a perfect introduction of young Esteghlal forward, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh. On the 79th minute Ansarifard was withdrawn to be replaced by Sayyadmanesh who has yet to complete his 18th birthday to make his debut.
Two minutes later, a clever through ball and perfectly timed run by the debutant, created a one to one situation with Syrian keeper. Allahyar though, seemed to get his bearing all wrong and mildly shot wild of the advancing keeper.
However, just before the end of regulation time, a corner by Hajsafy was met by towering the Sayyadmanesh who jumped and headed powerfully into the net. A beautiful goal indeed and a perfect curtain raiser for one of the future stars of Iranian football.
All in all, it was a 10 out of 10 performance by Team Melli and a perfect start fot the Belgian Marc Wilmots. Apart from the introduction of Sayyadmanesh this team was the legacy of Carlos Queiroz. However, there is a marked change in the philosophy between the former Team Melli coach who was an avid believer in tight defenses and the philosophy of the new regime as clearly stated by Wilmots in his pre-match press conference.
Wilmots team will be playing offensive football but not forgetting the delicate balance between going on all-out attack and reasonable strong defense.
One thing that Queiroz has created in this team though and has to be credited for it, is creation of a strong team with plenty of options in every position. It will Make Marc Wilmots job that much easier.