Team Melli shut down the Korean machine once again and prevented over 66,000 fans in the landmark World Cup stadium from leaving the stadium cheerfully. Iran drew away to South Korea, the only team in these FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers that have left the Korean soil with a point.
The two teams have been rivals in Asia for many decades but this particular match was significant for both each having its own reason.
It was the Korean coach Shin Tae-yong’s first official match in charge after his predecessor, the Germen Uli Stielike was sacked following a 3-2 defeat by lowly Qatar in the last match.
Victory in Shin Tae-yong’s first match in charge would have secured second place in Group A for Korea with Uzbekistan beaten 1-0 by China, but they could not find the breakthrough goal despite group winners Iran seeing Saeid Ezatolahi dismissed for kicking Kim Min-jae in the head after 52 minutes.
Frankly, South Korea despite its star studded team and a marquee player in Son Heung-min , the Tottenham midfielder, did not show much improvement against Iran under the new coach. Their offensive threat was no more than mild and only few balls eventually reached Biranvand in goal and none in anger.
Iran did not have to win, so Queiroz built his team on the basis of not losing. A solid defensive game plan where defending started deep in the middle of the field, was good enough to hold the Koreans at bay.
Team Melli vs.Korea Rep. record
| P | W | D | L | GF-GA | G. DIFF | |
| Total | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 32 – 32 | +0 |
Queiroz was not going to allow the Koreans to get the better of him and he proved that he can pick his players to do exactly what he wants. The wide gap of experience between Shin Tae-yong & Carlos Queiroz showed in this match as the Korean coach failed to change the game plan, his offensive plans or change his offensive tactics to break the Iranians. Queiroz, on the other hand, easily adapted to losing a player and still keep the steadfast defense intact.
Saeid Ezatolahi seriously let Carlos Queiroz down. The Portuguese coach swears by the European based player for some very good reasons, discipline and professionalism being a couple of those attributes. However, The Rostov midfielder was a prime example of petulant and unprofessional act when he stepped on the Korean player’s head despite the Korean being guilty of rough play.
Such childish act was not in Queiroz’s script and he had to adapt and do some enforced changes. However, although the cunning Portuguese had very little problem in changing his line up to accommodate the loss of one midfielder, he has done that on the expense of falling short in the forward line allowing the Koreans to increase the pressure on his defenders.
One amazing performance in this match belonged to the Team Melli fans in the World Cup Stadium. The small groups of Iranian fans were vocal and supported Team melli with passion. Their chant of Iran was heard all over and clearly picked up by the TV microphones.
Team Melli players greeted those fans at the end of the match.
Syria is the last match and another meaningless encounter; however this proud record of clean sheet must be protected at all cost. It is now a mission.
