Sports > Football > IRAN THROUGH TO ASIAN CUP QUARTER FINALS BY AFSHIN DASTAFSHAN
Iran performance not too convincing
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Iran ended their first round Asian Cup matches with a 2-0 defeat of Malaysia. Iran were expected to secure a comprehensive win over Malaysia ranked 154th in FIFA’s latest world ranking and top Group C but in the end they needed a favour from Uzbekistan to top their Group. Had China beaten Uzbekistan by only one goal China would have topped Group C on goal difference forcing Iran into a tough quarter final match against Persian Gulf rivals Saudi Arabia, but a 3-0 win for Uzbekistan over China meant Iran won Group C and will now face a shaky South Korea that has struggled to find her form in the tournament losing to Bahrain, and only managing a 1-0 win against Indonesia.
We will take a closer look at Iran vs. Malaysia as there are issues and concerns to raise. Despite Fereydoon Zandi’s less than convincing performance in full left back position as explained in previous articles Team Melli head coach Mr Ghalenoei once again used Zandi in full back position, this decision once again deprived Iran of a quality left footed player who is best used as an attacking left winger further up the field. But there was an even more amazing decision in Iran’s formation, Andrianik Teymourian who is a solid half back player playing in the centre was moved to the right flank! Teymourian did not do any better in this area than Zandi did in the back, as a result of Teymourian moving to the right Kaebi and Kazemian who are Iran’s best right wingers were left on the substitutes bench!
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Malaysia were an extremely weak side, this was a good opportunity for Iran to give their substitutes a chance to play, unfortunately Iran used their main players in this match, players such as Shojaee or Sadeghi are yet to kick a ball in this tournament, Roudbarian has not been convincing in goal, this match was a good chance to let Talebloo play in goal. Mobali played on the left and Madanchi who is a left winger was not used in this match! It is puzzling why these changes are made in the team but there is one thing for sure, these guess work changes are confusing the players and it is damaging team chemistry and flow of play, Iran did not play well in either half against Malaysia, the substitutions made in the second half failed to have an impact on the game. Iran scored one goal in each half; the first came from a penalty kick.
Iran continue to ride their luck in this tournament, first they were drawn in the only group that had not Arab teams, Group C also had the weakest team in the tournament Malaysia, by topping Group C Iran have avoided Saudi Arabia in the quarter finals and Japan or Australia in the semi finals, should Iran beat South Korea they would face Vietnam or Iraq in the semis which is the easier of the two semis. Asian Cup is there for the taking, I am still waiting for evidence of game plan and players used in the right posts by Iran in this tournament, I hope this won’t prove too costly in the end. For the moment Iran have the results they needed but their performance will have to improve if they are to win the title.
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