Iran 2-0 Chile: Alexis Sanchez fails to spark comeback as Queiroz masterminds shock
- Iran’s captain Javad Nekounam tapped his side into the lead from a corner
- Vahid Amiri finished off a flowing team move on 50 minutes to go 2-0 up
- Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez came on for Chile at half-time
Arsenal’s fatigued talisman Alexis Sanchez failed to prevent Chile falling to a shock defeat by Iran in St Polten.
Former Real Madrid boss and Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz masterminded a resolute Iran side to prevail 2-0 at the neutral venue of the NV Arena in Austria.
In their first ever meeting, goals from Javad Nekounam and Vahid Amiri finished off Chile in the international friendly for a remarkable result.
Alexis Sanchez, who has already played 3,326 minutes for the Gunners this season, started on the Chile bench alongside Juventus star Arturo Vidal with Sunday’s clash against South American counterparts Brazil in mind.
A stuttering Chile failed to utilise their dominance in the opening exchanges and were undone by a simple set piece.
Iran captain Nekounam couldn’t believe his luck as he strode in unmarked at the back post following an Iran corner on 21 minutes, with Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo failing to react in time.
Chile had 74 per cent of possession in Austria but we toothless in attack, hence the introduction of Sanchez at the interval.
However a swift counter attack on 50 minutes saw Vahid Amiri double Iran’s lead as he swept in from 12 yards.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side poured forward, determined to level the contest. Mark Gonzalez missed Chile’s best chance before halftime when he had his header saved by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi in the 43rd.
Carlos Queiroz, Iran’s national team coach, shouts out instructions to his players during the victory
Chile created more danger after Sanchez’s appearance. On the hour mark, he set up Jose Pedro Fuenzalida but his diagonal shot went wide.
Sanchez came close in the 77th when he controlled the ball on the chest before sending his volley from 15 meters just over the bar.
However Iran stood firm and recorded a famous win, whereas Chile will have to improve drastically ahead of facing Brazil in London at the weekend and then hosting the Copa America in June.
Iran’s squad are celebrating again soon after half-time, having doubled their lead through Vahid Amiri
Mar 2015 – 9:06am
Iran shocks Copa America host Chile
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Iran players celebrate scoring against Chile. (AFP)
In one of Chile’s final internationals before it opens the South American showpiece against Ecuador in June, Jorge Sampaoli saw his side fall to goals in either half from captain Javad Nekounam and Vahid Amiri.
Carlos Queiroz’s Iran started brightly and was rewarded after 21 minutes when Nekounam converted Andranik Teymourian’s corner.
Brazil is next up for Chile – as the sides meet for the first time since their last-16 FIFA World Cup clash – while Iran faces Sweden after victory in its first outing since the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Eduardo Vargas fired over after a smart turn 12 minutes in, after Chile had survived some early Iran pressure.
Masoud Shojaei then went down under a clumsy challenge from Gonzalo Jara, although the referee waved away the half-hearted penalty protests.
Nekounam eventually made Iran’s pressure pay when the skipper bundled home the opener amid slack marking from Rodrigo Millar and questionable goalkeeping from Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo.
The goal sparked Chile into life, with Juan Cornejo flashing a shot wide before the half-hour mark, before Fabian Orellana hit the side-netting from close range.
Mark Gonzalez saw a header beaten away by Alireza Haghighi as Chile piled on the pressure prior to the interval to no avail.
Sampaoli opted to introduce star man Sanchez at the interval, but it was Iran who found the target next as Reza Ghoochannejhad latched on to a throughball and picked out Amiri.
The Naft Tehran forward calmly finished from inside the area to put Queiroz’s side firmly in control.
Matias Fernandez almost reduced the deficit with a fierce drive prior to the hour with Jose Fuenzalida angling a strike wide of the far post as Sampaoli’s men continued to knock on the door.
Veteran David Pizarro was brought on to try to find a way back into the game for the South Americans, but Chile found Haghighi in fine form as the goalkeeper smartly kept out Fernandez’s free-kick going into the final 20 minutes.
Despite the late pressure, Chile failed to avert a second defeat in eight post-World Cup outings, leaving Sampaoli questions to answer with the Copa clash against Ecuador in Santiago less than three months away.
ST. POELTEN, Austria — Chile slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Iran on Thursday in their second-to-last friendly before hosting the Copa America in June.
Iran captain Javad Nekounam scored from short range from Andranik Teymourian’s corner in the 21st minute when he was left unmarked at the far post. It was Nekounam’s 38th goal in his 151st international.
Vahid Amiri beat Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo when he rounded off a counterattack set up by Reza Ghoochannejhad on the right wing five minutes into the second half, in Iran’s first match since losing to Iraq on penalties in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup in January.
With a friendly against Brazil in London in three days, Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli rested several key players, including Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez, though the striker came on to replace Fabian Orellana in the second half.
The South Americans dominated ball possession for most of the match but lacked efficiency in front of goal.
Mark Gonzalez missed Chile’s best chance before half-time when he had his header saved by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi in the 43rd minute.
Chile created more danger after Sanchez’s appearance. On the hour mark, he set up Jose Pedro Fuenzalida but his diagonal shot went wide.
Sanchez came close in the 77th minute when he controlled the ball on the chest before sending his volley from 15 meters just over the bar.
It was Chile’s second defeat in eight games since last year’s World Cup.
Iran play another friendly against Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday