Team Melli comprehensively defeated Tajikistan National team (FIFA Rank 126) in a friendly international match in Azadi Stadium. The match ended 6-1 in favor of Iran in what seemed like a practice session. Aboghasim Dehnavi and Yaghoub Karimi both scored a brace in the first half, which ended 4-0 while Hassanzadeh and Abbasfard , both substitutes , added a goal each in the second half,
Sabankhalov scored a spectacular consolation goal in the second half for the Tajik team.
In a match that was believed to be a preparation for next week’s important and defining encounter against Uzbekistan the 4th round of FIFA World Cup qualifier, the biggest surprise was the fileding of the reserve team for this match. By selecting 11 starters , Carlos Queiroz has put a big question mark on the objective of this game just 6 days before the Uzbekistan game. Out of the 11 starting players only Mahini featured in the last match in Azadi against Korea Rep. but only as a substitute. Khalatbari , also a sub for that game also played about 16 minutes in this match against Tajikistan.
It remained to be seen , how could Queiroz claim that this Tajikistan match can be a preparatory game against the much tougher Uzbekistan , while playing none of his starting players !!!
The starting line up for Team Melli was:
Rhaman Ahmadi , Shojaa Khalilzadeh, Mohammad Nosrati, Hossein Mahini, Ehsan Hajsafy, Yaghoub Karimi, Abolghasim Dehnavi, Milad Nouri, Omid Nazari , Ali Karimi (C), Jalal Rafhaei,
It took 9 minutes for Team melli to open the scoring. A smart diagonal pass from Ali Karimi , found Dehnavi just inside the box , who easily beat the goalkeeper and scored.
4 minutes later m the two Kaeimis combined for the second goal. Ali’s chipped cross delicately into the box for Yaghoub to head the ball to the far left post, which the fully strecthed Tajik goalkeeper failed to save.
On the half hour mark , with a skillful move by Abolghasim in which he dribbled past 2 Tajik defenders before shooting, announced his second and the teams’s third.
A minute later Yaghoub karimi scored his second and Iran’s fourth.
Ali Karimi who had two assists in this match limped off just before the end of the first half with what looked like a pulled muscle. he was replaced by Arash Afshun.
The one sided first half ended 4-0 for Team Melli,.
the second half saw the introduction of 3 substitutes , Makani in goals instead of idle Ahmadi , Abbasfartd and Hassanzadeh –
in the 49th minute Hassanzadeh received a defense splitting pass from Milad Nouri. The Mes Kerman forward in his debut match , dribbled past the Tajik goalkeeper and scored.
From then on , Tajikistan team organized their defense and were much tougher to penetrate. In the process, they also scored an spectacular goal in minute 69 by number 3 Sabankhalov
Team Melli had to wait until the end for the sixth match scored by substitute Alireza Abbasfard.
in a post match statement , Queiroz reiterated that this match was in preparation for the Uzbekistan match (…) . He said that Uzbekistan is even tougher match than Korea. “They are a compact team and do not [lay openly. They will be very well prepared. ” He added
The Portuguese coach emphasized the role of the fans” the fans will be crucial for us. We expect the stadium to be full as 100,000 fans will be very important support for us. I appeal to the fans to bring green white and red flags to the stadium.”
Team Melli will be Meeting Uzbekistan in Azadi with 7 points in the bag. A win will go a long way in the qualification to Brazil.