Iran come from behind to beat defending champions Iraq

DOHA - Iran came from behind to stun defending champions Iraq 2-1 in an Asian Cup Group D match played in Doha Tuesday, while the other group game between World Cup finalists North Korea and the United Arab Emirates ended 0-0.

In the Al Rayyan stadium, Iraqi Younus Mahmood - a hero from the 2007 final who scored the winner against Saudi Arabia that gave Iraq the title - opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but Gholam Reza Rezaei equalized for Iran three minutes before the break.

Iman Mobali scored the winner for his side in the 84th minute with a free-kick.

Before the kick-off, a minute-long silence was observed as a mark of respect for the victims of an IranAir crash that claimed at least 77 lives Sunday.

Iran coach Afshin Ghotabi said after the game that the team wanted to dedicate the victory to families of those who lost their lives in the air crash.

“Football is only a sport and if we can do something special that is important,” he said.

Once the game started, there was little seen of the aggression that many had predicted between the two teams, whose countries waged a bitter eight-year war in the 1980s.

Ghotabi said the rivalry between the two countries had not been the only thing that gave the game a special significance. “The game was complex not only because it was a match between Iran and Iraq, but also because it was the opening game and against the defending champions.”

Iraq achieved an early breakthrough when a cross from Salam Shaker found Emad Mohammed waiting on the wings. His ball over goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati was probably going into goal anyway, but Mahmood pushed it over the line.

Three minutes from the break, Iran managed to level matters as a defence splitting pass from Anderanik Teymourian came to Rezaei, whose shot found the back of the net.

Iraq had two opportunities to restore their lead before the break, but were foiled by Iran’s goalkeeper.

Ghotbi said that he always believed his team could come back. “I had confidence that we would play better after going down. It was necessary to get back before break as they are masters of killing time.”

In the 44th minute, Rahmati pulled off a one-handed save from a Ala’a Abdulzehra header and then a minute later nudged Samal Saeed’s shot from 40 metres over the cross-bar.

The title-holders were the more enterprising side in the second half and should have scored a second goal in the 69th minute, but Mohammed’s cross across the area was missed by Mahmood.

Instead, it was Iran who snatched an unlikely winner six minutes from the end, after Sameer Saeed had tugged at Mohammad Reza Khalatbari’s shirt.

The resultant free-kick from Mobali flew high into the area and was missed by friend and foe alike as it curled its way past goalkeeper Qusay Muneer into the back of the net to give Iran the three points.

Iraqi coach Wolfgang Sidka said that he felt the defeat was unnecessary. “There was no reason to do a foul around the box, we knew that they were dangerous from set-pieces.

“They played very tough and they had excellent conditions. I think the game was 50/50, but I missed a bit of ball possession from our side.”

In the earlier game played in front of a disappointingly small crowd in the Qatar SC stadium, World Cup finalists North Korea missed a penalty as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the UAE.

Captain Hong Yong Jo was the villain of his side as he blasted a spot kick awarded after Hamdan Al Kamali brought down Jong Tae Se in the area against the cross-bar.

Iran leads the group on three points, ahead of North Korea and the UAE with one point each. Iraq has no points.