Tag: Orlando Pirates

Second win for Team Melli against Pirates reserves

 Team Melli defeated Orlando Pirates’ reserves 3-1 in a friendly in Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday.

The Sepahan contingent managed to score all the goals of Team Melli in the match. Ehsan Hajsafi was on target twice in the 47th and 70th minutes helping himself to a brace while Mehdi Sharifi scored in the 61st minute.

Orlando Pirates pulled a goal back in the 75th minute. A group of about 30 Iranians mostly families residing in Johannesburg attended the match to cheer for Iran.

Team Melli was held 3-3 against the South African football club in April as part of the preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

Iran had defeated Kaizer Chiefs reserves 2-0 on Wednesday.

The Asian Cup will kick off in Australia on January 9, with Iran playing Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE in Group C.

Team Melli is scheduled to play against Palestine on December 28 in Tehran before departing to Australia. Team Melli will meet Iraq in another friendly in Australia six days before their opening match against Bahrain.

Team Melli draws the second practise match.

Team Melli played its second practice match in Johannesburg against Orlando Pirates of the South African Professional league on Wednesday. The match ended 3-3.

Unlike the first practice match , this one was played in a proper football pitch of Orlando pirates club. Team Melli scored through Khalatbary (9), Beigzadeh (52) and Nourozi (78)

The match was played in two 40 minutes period and was a part of the ongoing preparation for  the FIFA World Cup 2014.

Team Melli starting line up was : Ahmadi ; Montazeri , Hosseini , Sadeghi , Beigzadeh , Heidary , Teymourian , Haddadifar, Rahmani , Khalatbary , Ansarifard.

In the second half , the young goalkeeper Biranvand was given his chance as he replaced Rahman Ahmadi in goal. ALl the players, except for Ando , Rahmani and Montazeri were rotated during the game.

Team Melli could not repeat the convincing victory of Tuesday , however , Queiroz has emphasized that results do not matter at this stage and in these practice matches. A good test for Team Melli will be on the 2nd of May when the full team will be playing an international friendly against Mozambique.

Team Melli training camp in South Africa has been cut short by 5 days.