Team Melli Captain Javad Nekounam scored a brace as Iran defeated Lebanon 4-0 in the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifications round in packed Azadi stadium. Mohammed Reza Khalatbary opened the scoring in the 38th minute and on the stroke of half time, Nekounam scored with a header to make it 2-0.
Right at the beginning of the second half Reza Ghoochannejad scored the third , while Nekounam sealed the win with a thunderous shot to make it 4-0 in the 85th minute..
Iran started the match quite strongly and manage to dominate the game from the onset. The result was an onslaught of attacking moves , which due to haste , inaccurate delivery , and poor finishing , it failed to produce any goals. Lebanon who had nothing to lose had a clear strategy in this game. With 9 regular players missing from the line up due to different reasons, the players embarked on a damage limitation exercise. Lebanon tactic was to “Park the bus”, frustrate the opposition, play act and hope for a break. The Lebanese managed to frustrate the Iranians all right but it was only a matter of time before their defense would break down.
Lebanon’s practice of time wasting , which is quite common with the Arab teams across the region, not only frustrated the Iranian players but it also infuriated the 70,000 fans in Azadi , who jeered and shouted against Lebanon players. The Lebanese started play acting and faking injury as early as the 15th minutes in the hope of breaking up the constant pressure created by Team Melli. Chance after chance went begging and wasted mostly ending up around Reza Ghoocannejad.
Despite the players targeting Ghoochannejad on the crosses and final passes, there was lack of quality in the deliveries were not accurate enough for the Standard Liege player to create scoring opportunities.
Lebanon’s keeper Abbas Hassan , was showing his class when he saved three consecutive balls late in the first half , with his fine timing and reflexes. However , he was left wanting against Khalatbary , who zig zagged his way between two central defenders and delivered a nice ball far from the reach of Abbas Hassan to Open Team Melli’s account on minute 38.
Just before half time, a sweet and delicate chip from Heydari on the right side, and a towering jump from Nekounam ended up in the Iranian Captain scoring the second just before the final whistle.
Iran was up 2-0 at the half time and in a commanding position
The second half started like a whirling with Team Melli going on an all out attack. This resulted in a quick goal by Reza Ghoochannejad , who cleverly got clear from his mark in the box with a shimmy before blasting the ball right in the ceiling against the advancing Abbas Hassan, There was no chance for Lebanon hero to save such a goal.
The final goal was another beauty from Javad Nekounam. The Team Melli Captain increased his tally of international goals to 36 in 134 international matches, with a powerful shot right outside the box to scored his second and team’s fourth in the 85th minute.
With this win, Iran is now ranked second in the group and only need one point is required from the final group match against Korea Rep. in Ulsan next Tuesday to qualify directly to the FIFA World Cup finals.
The afc.com report
Tehran: Iran put on a dominant display as Carlos Queiroz’s side recorded a 4-0 win over Lebanon at the Azadi Stadium on Tuesday that keeps their bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil next year on track.
Three goals in seven minutes either side of the half-time break effectively sealed the three points for the Iranians as they seek to qualify for a fourth FIFA World Cup having previously appeared in Argentina in 1978, in France in 1998 and in Germany in 2006.
Victory moves Iran to within a point of Group A leaders Korea Republic and into second place, two points ahead of Uzbekistan with just one round of matches to play. The Iranians travel to Ulsan to face the Koreans next Tuesday.
With the Lebanese already eliminated, the onus was on Iran to take advantage of a weak opponent and, although the hosts were in control from the first whistle, it took the Iranians until the 39th minute to take the lead.
Reza Ghoochannejhad and Mohamad Reza Khalatbari were guilty of missing several chances before Khalatbari finally opened the scoring six minutes ahead of the halftime break when he slipped the ball beyond Abbas Hassan.
Captain Javad Nekounam doubled his side’s advantage as the half moved into Stoppage time when the former Osasuna midfielder headed into the top corner following Khosro Heydari’s cross.
The second half was not even a minute old when the Iranians made it 3-0 via Ghoochannejhad, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net after turning past Hassan Daher and Iran had numerous opportunities to add to their goal difference throughout what remained of the game.
Despite their dominance, however, Iran had to wait until four minutes from time when Nekounam claimed his second and his team’s fourth with a fabulous finish with the inside of his right foot from outside the area that gave Hassan no chance.
But the size of the win means a draw could be enough for the Iranians when they take on the Koreans next week to advance to their fourth FIFA World Cup finals.