In perhaps one of the most shocking results of Iran’s football in the modern era, Iran’s Omid Teanm (U23) was defeated by lowly Hong Kong by a solitary goal in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games 2022 Guanzhou.
Although the previous performances against its opposition in the earlier rounds of the competition were nothing to rave about, it was clear from the last match against Thailand, that Omid has a mountain to climb to reach the finals or even be on the podium of medals. Very few, however, thought that Omid would crumble against Hong Kong! This defeat against Hong Kong Was shocking.
In a match that saw Iranian domination, the Omid failed to score any goals mostly due to individualism, insistence on dribbling, profligation, lack of team play, and most obviously poor to non-existent guidance from the bench.
Hong Kong is a third or fourth-tier Asian team. In the FIFA World Ranking, it is #145, and in the AFC Ranking: #25. Compared to Iran, which in the FIFA World Ranking, is #21 and in the AFC Ranking: #2. That tells you a whole lot of things before even the two teams start kicking the ball.
Hong Kong, however, under a professional Head coach: Jorn Andersen . The Norwegian coached in the Bundesliga. The underdog managed to outsmart the Omid Team in a clever and organized manner. Anderson knew the limitations of his team and his players, but most importantly, he read the hands of the Iranian team and the various weaknesses of the players who are no more than 11 individuals each playing for his own glory. Teamwork in Omid was lacking and never reached the class and professionalism of modern football that is required to achieve success.
All the Hong Kong players needed to do was stay compact, even to defend with 11 players, be destroyers to the weak and disjointed Iran’s side midfield, and play on the counter-attack. The Far Easterns did their job to perfection and won the game against all the odds with a solitary but well-taken goal worthy of winning any match.
The few Iranian balls that reached Hong Kong’s goal, were competently dealt with by the goalkeeper Pong Cheuk Heib. It was also the misfiring Arsalan Mottahari who spoiled it for Iran, who could have scored two goals by headers but did the impossible by heading the ball right up over the bar while it was much easier to head it the net from a few feet.
Overall, the Omid team performance was once again marred by poor individualism by players raised in a football culture that religiously believes in dribbling as a must before thinking of any other move. The mental agility was weak, when to pass or when to take the football on a run, was seriously flawed in this match. The pace of the players was wanting.
Despite all that, it is proven once again that an amateur coach like Enayati is not the solution for Omid Team which has always been handicapped in Iran’s football. Which other country in the world would you know that pulls three of its best player from the national team in an important tournament, to play for their club?
Nevertheless, the defeat, shocking as it is, has a saving grace, To meet the might, discipline, organization, and sheer power of the South Korea U23 team, could have been several folds more embarrassing in the semi-finals.
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