Iran have opened their Asian Cup campaign with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over reigning champions and bitter rivals Iraq on Tuesday.
Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud drew first blood with a strike in the 12th minute, but Reza Rezaei equalised for Iran in the shadows of half-time.
With fatigue setting in and the game seemingly headed for a draw, set-piece specialist Iman Mobali deposited an 84th-minute free kick past Iraqi goalkeeper Mohammed Gassid as Iran stole the honours in a thrilling international derby.
Star striker Younis had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute, latching on to a back-pass from Samal Saeed but shooting poorly from inside the area.
At the other end, Iran attempted to exploit Iraq’s lack of height in central defence from set pieces, utilising Ehsan Hajysafi’s arm to send a number of long throw-ins to the penalty area.
But the Iranians struggled early and were rattled by Iraq’s constant pressure, eventually conceding a goal in the 12th minute due to some very poor marking.
Forward Emad Mohammed deserved much of the credit for Iraq’s opener, meeting a deep cross from the right at the far post and sending a clever header over Iranian goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati for Younis to slide in from the goal-line.
Iran settled in to the pace of the game as the first half wore on, recording their first real chance in the 24th minute as Cypriot-born Hadi Aghily rose to meet one of Mobali’s curling free kicks, though the effort was judged well by Gassid.
There were further signs a goal was in the offing for Afshin Ghotbi’s men, who received a gilt-edged opportunity on the half-hour mark when another Mobali kick fortuitously landed at the feet of unmarked pair Jalal Hosseini and skipper Javad Nekounam, though neither could finish.
It was left up to Rezaei to find an equaliser in the 42nd minute, peeling away from the off-side trap to chase a brilliant Andranik Teymourian through ball and bury his shot from the edge of the six-yard box.
Iran took over as the aggressor in the second half and pressed for a second goal, while Iraq seemed content to sit back in defence and protect their point.
The match, which was played largely in an even-tempered fashion despite a high-foul tally, spilled into temporary animosity inspired by Younis’ hair-pull on Aghily on the hour.
Front duo Mohammed and Younis nearly combined for a second goal for Iraq in the 70th minute, with the former making a terrific run down the right wing only to cross agonisingly wide of his skipper in the box.
Iran nearly took the advantage six minutes later through midfielder Rezaei, who pounced on substitute Ahmad Ibrahim Khalaf’s poor touch but found the side-netting with his shot.
If Khalaf’s mistake could be forgiven, fellow substitute Samer Saeed’s could not.
The young midfielder received a caution one minute after stepping onto the pitch for a needless shirt-pull on Iranian sub Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari.
That gave Mobali a free kick to the left of the box, and the Esteghlal attacker fired a sublime strike that beat all comers and dropped between Gassid’s legs to find the net.
Aghily should have made it 3-1 on 90 minutes after meeting substitute Pejman Noori’s close-range free kick unmarked, but his powerful header sailed over the crossbar.
Nevertheless, Iran held on to record a well-earned victory, sending them top of Group D and two points clear of North Korea and the United Arab Emirates on the table.
Tue 11 January, 2011
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