Coach: Branko Ivankovic (Croatia)
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CHONGQING - Iran, the three-time Asian Cup champions, scored an equaliser in the third minute of added time to rescue a precious point from a contest in which they were outplayed by a team making their debut in the competition.
Milan Macala's side raced into a two-goal lead and were minutes away from causing one of the biggest upsets in Asian Cup history when Mohammed Nosrati popped up to score with a looping header over Oman keeper Ali Al Habsi to spark scenes of joy among the Iran players and officials.
For Oman, the result is a bitter pill to swallow, but they can still qualify for the last eight by running up a big score in the final game against Thailand on Wednesday provided Iran do not beat Japan on the same day.
Oman dominated the first half went into the break two goals up thanks to Imad Ali's brace and had plenty of chances to kill the game off after Iran pulled one back through a deflected Ali Karimi goal on 63 minutes.
Macala's side took the lead after 30 minutes when Ahmed Al Mahanjri floated the ball over the advancing Iranian defence into the path of Ahmed Hadid. He ran on goal and cut the ball into the path of Imad who slipped but managed to regain his footing to slide the ball over the line from six yards out.
Yahya Golmohammadi powered a header narrowly wide of the Oman goal on 36 minutes before Oman doubled their lead on 41 minutes.
Hadid was again the provider, his cross from the byline finding Imad who rose above the Iran defence to score with a thumping header from eight yards out.
Bader Mubarak sent a free-kick inches over the bar after 55 minutes and, three minutes later, Imad nearly bagged his third, Iran keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour doing well to parry a stinging volley away for a corner.
Iran were in disarray in these opening exchanges of the second half and a furious exchange between Rahman Rezaei and Ali Badavi showed just how rattled the three-times winners were.
Ivankovic's men were given a ray of hope on 63 minutes when Karimi equalised with right-foot shot which hit an Oman defender and wrong-footed Al Habsi.
The goal gave Iran renewed hope but as they pressed forward so gaps appeared for Oman. On 70 minutes, Fouzi Basheer, whose agility and athleticism troubled Iran all night, put a header inches over the bar and, 16 minutes later, the same player could have wrapped things up when he was clean through on goal but a poor first touch allowed the keeper to smother the threat.
As a famous victory neared and the game entered added time, Mahdavikia swung a free-kick into the Oman box and Nosrati, with his back to goal, managed to beat Khalifa Ayil to the ball to send a looping header into the far corner. |