Team Melli defeated Trinidad & Tobago 1 – 0 in the match which was played in Azadi Stadium. Karim Ansarifard scored Iran’s goal five minutes into the second half.
T&T were a good opponent for Team Melli despite their ultra physical game that threatened to spoil this friendly match which started on a good note. In particular, the midfielder Kaleem Hyland seemed to be in a mission to destroy the match and the opponents with his rough tackles, which earned him a yellow card as early as the 18th minute, his acting, grass-rolling and constant argument with the weak referee. A sad excuse for a Captain, luckily not many T&T players followed the footstep and behaviour of their leader! It seems that playing in Saudi Arabia has had its effect on the attitude and mental status of T&T No. 8 Hyland .
Team Melli started with a team which was mostly second string with a debut for Ahmad Noorullahei, the Persepolis midfield player. The central defense, was probably the most vulnerable and least experienced with Cheshmi and Kanan-Zadegan, however, there was plenty of experience at the half backs in Hajsafy and Ghafoori
Up front, Ansarifard and Kaveh Rezaei, manged one solid shot each to test the T&T keeper.Philip, both were saved. On the half hour, T&T conceded a soft penalty, which Ansarifard was assigned to take. His feeble shot was easily saved by Philip extended legs, the rebound dropped kindly in front of Ansarifard’s . All he had to do was calmly slot it anywhere between the posts, instead he Nottingham Forest forward, ballooned it over the bar.
Despite Iran’s control of the game, there was no goals and few dangerous chances to take the lead.
It was in the 50th minute however, the Karim Ansarifard redeemed himself, and in style too. Received a diagonal pass from Vouriya Ghafoori, Ansarifard easily dribbled past his marker and left him for dead, before he aimed at the right hand side of Philip from 25 meters. The ball went through Hyland legs before beating the keeper.
Iran continued strongly after that and mass substitution by both side, that ensued which usually spoils a match, was surprisingly not the case here. After the changes, the match turned in to real competition. Both teams tried hard but in reality, it was unforeseeable to see T&T score. Hossein Hososein in goal, had not had even one shot to save but picked a few loose balls to his liking.
Although Team Melli had a satisfactory match and winning one too, there are still quite a bit of work to be done on players coordination, still the biggest problem. Particular area of weakness is the final ball around the box of the opponents. Team Melli seem to freeze or run out of idea when they get there. Queiroz , will be definitely busy thinking of solution for that.
