Tehran, Sept 8, IRNA -- Head Coach of Iran's National Football Team
Miroslav Blazevic praised his team performance against Iraq's national
football team on Friday adding, ``I had promised victory to the
Iranians.''
Asian Football Confederation (AFC), on its internet site, quoted
Blazevic as saying, ``Our rival displayed good quality football which
only makes us savor this victory even more.''
He said with the victory over Iraq, Iran took a great stride to
achieve its goals and added, ``We are probably half way there.''
Blazevic singled out forward and Capitan Ali Daie for his play,
saying, ``Even when Iraq was ahead, I was not worried because I knew
we were going to win.''
AFC quoted Daie as saying ''I have scored many goals similar to
the one against Iraq, but, we needed three points in this game and we
are happy that we got it.''
Iran defeated the Iraqi squad 2-1 in Baghdad on Friday to take the
lead in the World Cup qualifying Group A.
In its next fixture, Iran will play Bahrain in Tehran on September
14.
Iran beats Iraq 2-1 to take the lead
Tehran, Sept 8, IRNA -- The Asian heavyweight team of Iran defeated
the Iraqi squad 2-1 in Baghdad on Friday to take the lead in the World
Cup qualifying Group A.
In the 19th minute, the Hamburg-bound player Mehdi Mahdavikia's
free-kick found the left winger of Iran, Rahman Rezaei, in the box
whose header bounced after hitting the bar.
One minute later, the Iraqi striker Emad Ridha put his side ahead
with a delightful looping shot when the Iranian goalkeeper Ebrahim
Mirzapour mistakenly passed the ball to Hawar Haidar.
Around 60,000 enthusiastic home fans celebrated the goal just 10
minutes. The skillful striker of Iran, Ali Karimi, receiving a superb
pass from his teammate Alireza Vahedi-Nikbakht in the penalty area in
the 30th minute, dribbled past the Iraqi defender nonchalantly and
scored the equalizer from a low-range distance.
In the second half, it was Iran that possessed both field and ball
while Iraq facing great changes in its lineup -- after the Croatian
Coach Rudolf Belean took over Adnan Hamd following 1-0 loss to Saudi
Arabia -- joined the spectators to watch what the highly-spirited
players of Iran did on the field.
Six minutes from the time, the veteran marksman of Iran, Ali Daei,
shot a perfect curling ball far from the goalie of Iraq, giving his
side three points and top place in Group A.
... Payvand News - 9/8/01 ... --
