Beirut
Team Melli is leading Lebanon 1-0 at the end of the first half of Group B AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. The only goal of the match came from a corner kick where AmirHossein Sadeghi towered over the Lebanese defenders and head powerfully into the net. The match is played with no spectators as a security precaution in the aftermath of toady’s suicidal bomb blast in the vicinity of the Iranian embassy in Beirut.
Carlos Queiroz opted to start this match with a different line up, with Teymourian, Jabbari, Hajsafy and Montazzeri being rested. Alireza Jahanbakhash who scored Iran’s 3rd goal against Thailand , earned himself a starting role and looked quite lively on the right. The young player had a couple of good runs with one good offensive long run , but shot marginally wide.
minute 34 Abbas Hassan GK saves from Haghighi rebounded shoot
minute 36 Bilal Najjarine committed a professional foul on Dehagah and recived a yellow card
minute 37 Ashakn Dejagah tripped inside the edge of the box and looked like a penalty , but Chinese referee waved play-on.
minute 38 AmirHossein Sadeghi scores from a corner by Masoud Shoajei
minute 45+1 Nekounam wasted a setter by Haghighi as he blasted over the bar.
It was a good and lively half by both teams which was unfortunately suffered by the absence of the passionate Lebanese fans.
Team Melli Starting Line Up.
Daniel DAVARI
Jalal HOSSEINI
Hossein MAHINI
AmirHossein SADEGHI
Steven BEITASHOUR
Reza HAGHIGHI
AliReza JAHANBAKHSH
Javad NEKOUNAM
Ashkan DEJAGAH
Masoud SHOJAEI
Reza GHOOCHANNEJAD