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28.January.2009 at 18:30
Asian Cup Qualifier
Rajamangala Stadium , Bangkok
Attendance : 10000
Referee: KOVALENKO, VALENTIN (UZBEKISTAN)
Opponent Confederation: AFC
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Thailand
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0 - 0
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Iran
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Referee: KOVALENKO, VALENTIN (UZBEKISTAN) |
Asian Cup Qualifier-match |
Coach : Ali Daei
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BANGKOK – Iran maintained their position at the top of Group E of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifying competition after an entertaining goalless draw against Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts attacked relentlessly against a physically stronger side that always looked dangerous on the counter with Ali Daei's team doing enough to keep their qualifying campaign on course.
Thailand held the ascendancy but it was Iran who carved out the better chances in a lively first-half.
The first real action came after 11 minutes when Iran defender Mageed Gholamnejhad's spectacular 30-yard volley was tipped onto the post by Thai keeper Kosin Hathairattanakool following a half-cleared free-kick.
Thailand responded seconds later when Suree Sukha dribbled round the Iranian defence and managed to get a shot off from a tight angle a few yards out, forcing keeper Mehdi Rahmati to palm the ball away for a corner.
They went close again after 14 minutes when Teerasil Dangda struck a low shot just wide of the post.
Kosin was called into action again after 17 minutes when he comfortably punched away a powerful free-kick by Iranian midfielder Mohammadreza Khalatbari.
Thai defender Natthapong Samana was booked on 32 minutes for a foul on dangerous winger Gholamreza Rezai, who proved a constant menace, but Iran failed to capitalise from the resultant free-kick on the edge of the box.
Two minutes later, Hossein Kaebi found himself unmarked just five yards out but could only head Khalatbari's pinpoint cross tamely into the hands of the Thai keeper.
Thailand finished the half the stronger but playing with a lone striker, decent opportunities were hard to come by.
The closest they came to breaking the deadlock was just before the break when captain Datsakorn Thonglao struck a half-volley from the edge of the box that whistled past Rahmati's right-hand post.
The home team emerged for the second period the livelier of the two sides and if not for a great save by Rahmati, could have found themselves in front within two minutes of the restart.
Soon after, Teerasil was put through by Suchao Nutnum for the best chance of the game but his low shot from just inside the area was brilliantly turned away by Rahmati before he was again denied by the Iranian keeper after latching on to midfielder Surat Sukha’s pass.
Iran, though, remained a threat and on the hour mark, Khalatbari's corner found towering central defender Hadhi Aghily unmarked 12 yards out but he failed to get any power behind his volley, which was comfortably saved by Kosin.
As the game wore on Thailand looked the more likely to grab a winner but despite carving out several half-chances in the closing 10 minutes, they failed to capitalise on their possession. |
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