Three-times champions Iran yesterday basked in the glory of coming from behind to defeat holders and great rivals Iraq at the Asian Cup with their coach calling it “a very special” victory.
Iraq’s German coach Wolfgang Sidka had attempted to suggest the 2-1 defeat was simply losing three points, but his counterpart thought differently.
“When these two teams play each other there’s so much rivalry and history, so it’s very difficult to get the players to concentrate and focus on football and it becomes a fighting game,” Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi said.
Iran, traditionally one of the major powers in the region, have not lifted the Asian Cup since 1976 and the pressure is firmly on the 46-year-old Ghotbi to bring that long, barren run to an end.
However, they started their title assault on Tuesday poorly, nearly going behind at the Al-Rayyan Stadium after just four minutes when Iraq striker Younis Mahmoud was smartly denied by goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati.
When Mahmoud did score nine minutes later, Iran looked in deep trouble. However, they soon worked their way back into an entertaining match, the nimble-footed Gholam Reza Rezai netting the leveler three minutes from the break, and just as the game looked as if it was heading toward stalemate, Iman Mobali’s free-kick somehow crept in six minutes from time.
Ghotbi, who cut his coaching teeth in the US, will take over Shimizu S-Pulse, becoming the first Iranian to manage in Japan.
Iran next face North Korea on Saturday in Group D, while Iraq are scheduled to take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UAE restored some pride to the Gulf teams on Tuesday by holding North Korea to a 0-0 draw in its opening Group D match of the Asian Cup.
North Korea, which qualified for last year’s World Cup, should have taken the lead in the sixth minute, but captain Hong Yong-jo hit the bar with a penalty after Hamdan Al Kamali pushed Jong Tae-se inside the box.
After that reprieve, UAE dominated and missed at least half a dozen chances in the first half alone.
North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk saved a volley from UAE striker Esmail Matar and watched another shot go over the bar. Ri also stopped a shot from Ahmad Khaleel.
In the second half, Matar’s attempt from about 40m missed and Ri then came up with two solid saves late in the match, the second from substitute Saeed Al Kathiri’s header.
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