Tweet
IRAN 2 - BAHRAIN 4
Bahrain boosted their morale for the World Cup qualifying playoff first leg against Saudi Arabia on Saturday with a 4-2 test match victory over Iran in Manama.
In this friendly outside the FIFA calendar, Afshin Ghotbi had to do with only two days of preperations and was without his European based trio and the two invited legionnaires from the UAE, and once more went for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
It was of course visible throughout the game, that Iran's player were quickly summoned Saturday after the IPL games, while their opposition were training together for the World Cup playoffs, starting in five days, for weeks already.
Iran should have taken an early lead just seven minutes into the game when Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari showed a nice solo run, but his powerful shot from inside the box flew past the post.
A bad clearance after a Khosro Heydari cross became the perfect serving for Arash Borhani just one minute later, but the striker's shot from the penalty spot was too central and could be denied by the keeper.
The visitors were punished for their sloppy finishing five minutes later, when Vahid Talebloo, who got his chance in goal today instead of Mehdi Rahmati, failed to get to a squareball from the right across goalmouth and Abdulrahman was quicker than Hossein Kaebi and tipped it in from close range to make it 1-0.
Bahrain could have doubled the lead in minute 14, but Talebloo was lucky that a volley from close range went over the bar.
The keeper was less fortunate in minute 30, when he and the whole team were surprised by a quickly executed freekick which was extended into goal by Abdullatif for the homeside's second goal of the day.
But seven minutes later Iran pulled a goal back thanks to Khalatbari, who took on the whole defense on his own and finally perfectly set up Zandi, who smacked the ball into the net.
However, shortly before halftime Khalatbari injured his left knee during an attempted tackling and had to be replaced by Hadi Norouzi. It is yet unclear how bad the injury is, but Khalatbari could be seen limping towards the bench without any help. Khalatbari's exit surely was a setback for Iran's offense.
Bahrain had a chance to score a third two minutes into second half, but Iran's defense could clear a header from the goalline.
Salman Issa did it better in minute 54, when he, almost unchallenged, headed a freekick into the net. The manmarking in Iran's box had completely failed.
Iran could have considered another goal in minute 64, but was lucky that the striker, who had curved around Talebloo, missed the target from tight angle.
Borhani almost added his name to the scoresheet after a long ball forward, but his shot could be deflected and went narrowly wide (66'). Norouzi then missed another chance, when his volley to a Kaebi cross in minute 72 was too weak to trouble the goalkeeper.
In minute 83, the referee awarded a penalty kick for Iran, after a defender had blocked a Hadi Aghili header with his hand.
Ferydoon Zandi overtook responsibility and hammered the ball into the net.
Iran even could have even, but a 100%er was denied by the referee, who falsely had spotted a handball by Borhani.
Team Melli pushed forward in the final minutes to still get a draw and almost conceded a fourth, but the striker failed to take advantage of his one-on-one with Talebloo and missed the target.
Bahrain got a late penalty in the 99th minute of the game, which allowed Adnan Mohammed to score a fourth goal from the spot and end the game on a high note.
It was the final scene of a game, which could have ended with a much different scoreline, if both team hadn't wasted numerous good chances.
Bahrain - Iran 4-2 (2-1)
Friendly match, Manama
Goals:
1-0 Abdulrahman (12')
2-0 Abdullatif (30')
2-1 Zandi (37' / Assist by Khalatbari)
3-1 Issa (54')
3-2 Zandi (83' / Penalty / Handball)
4-2 Adnan Mohammed (100' / Penalty)
In this friendly outside the FIFA calendar, Afshin Ghotbi had to do with only two days of preperations and was without his European based trio and the two invited legionnaires from the UAE, and once more went for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
It was of course visible throughout the game, that Iran's player were quickly summoned Saturday after the IPL games, while their opposition were training together for the World Cup playoffs, starting in five days, for weeks already.
Iran should have taken an early lead just seven minutes into the game when Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari showed a nice solo run, but his powerful shot from inside the box flew past the post.
A bad clearance after a Khosro Heydari cross became the perfect serving for Arash Borhani just one minute later, but the striker's shot from the penalty spot was too central and could be denied by the keeper.
The visitors were punished for their sloppy finishing five minutes later, when Vahid Talebloo, who got his chance in goal today instead of Mehdi Rahmati, failed to get to a squareball from the right across goalmouth and Abdulrahman was quicker than Hossein Kaebi and tipped it in from close range to make it 1-0.
Bahrain could have doubled the lead in minute 14, but Talebloo was lucky that a volley from close range went over the bar.
The keeper was less fortunate in minute 30, when he and the whole team were surprised by a quickly executed freekick which was extended into goal by Abdullatif for the homeside's second goal of the day.
But seven minutes later Iran pulled a goal back thanks to Khalatbari, who took on the whole defense on his own and finally perfectly set up Zandi, who smacked the ball into the net.
However, shortly before halftime Khalatbari injured his left knee during an attempted tackling and had to be replaced by Hadi Norouzi. It is yet unclear how bad the injury is, but Khalatbari could be seen limping towards the bench without any help. Khalatbari's exit surely was a setback for Iran's offense.
Bahrain had a chance to score a third two minutes into second half, but Iran's defense could clear a header from the goalline.
Salman Issa did it better in minute 54, when he, almost unchallenged, headed a freekick into the net. The manmarking in Iran's box had completely failed.
Iran could have considered another goal in minute 64, but was lucky that the striker, who had curved around Talebloo, missed the target from tight angle.
Borhani almost added his name to the scoresheet after a long ball forward, but his shot could be deflected and went narrowly wide (66'). Norouzi then missed another chance, when his volley to a Kaebi cross in minute 72 was too weak to trouble the goalkeeper.
In minute 83, the referee awarded a penalty kick for Iran, after a defender had blocked a Hadi Aghili header with his hand.
Ferydoon Zandi overtook responsibility and hammered the ball into the net.
Iran even could have even, but a 100%er was denied by the referee, who falsely had spotted a handball by Borhani.
Team Melli pushed forward in the final minutes to still get a draw and almost conceded a fourth, but the striker failed to take advantage of his one-on-one with Talebloo and missed the target.
Bahrain got a late penalty in the 99th minute of the game, which allowed Adnan Mohammed to score a fourth goal from the spot and end the game on a high note.
It was the final scene of a game, which could have ended with a much different scoreline, if both team hadn't wasted numerous good chances.
Bahrain - Iran 4-2 (2-1)
Friendly match, Manama
Goals:
1-0 Abdulrahman (12')
2-0 Abdullatif (30')
2-1 Zandi (37' / Assist by Khalatbari)
3-1 Issa (54')
3-2 Zandi (83' / Penalty / Handball)
4-2 Adnan Mohammed (100' / Penalty)
Comment