Iran Coach : Afshin Ghotbi (USA)
UAE Coach: SreÄko Katanec (Slovenia)
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Arash Afshin Goal Clip
Mohammad Nouri Goal Clip
Waleed Abbas Own Gaol Clip
Iran maintained their 100% record at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011� whilst ending the UAE�s quarter-final hopes with a 3-0 victory at Qatar Sports Club Stadium on Wednesday.
The three-time champions had already wrapped up first place in Group D while the UAE had gone into the game needing three points to have a chance of joining Afshin Ghotbi�s side in the last eight.
Iran's Arash Afshin opened the scoring in 70th before seeing his joy cut short when he was sent off two minutes later.
The UAE were then also reduced to 10 men with Khalid Sebil receiving his marching orders before Iran sealed the win with a late Mohammad Nori strike and a Walid Abbas own goal.
Iran had made a number of changes to their first 11 and it was no surprise that the UAE started the stronger as Subait Khater tried his luck from distance after nine minutes, but his shot was straight at keeper Shahab Gordon.
The UAE continued to look the more dangerous with Ahmad Khalil seeing his shot rebound off the woodwork before Ismail Matar struck the outside of the post from close range.
Iran were seemingly happy to invite the pressure for the time being, although created a good chance just before the half hour mark when a headed clearance went only as far as Mohammad Nori and the forward hit a first-time shot that flew just wide.
But it was still the UAE who looked the most likely to score as Khalil fired a free-kick over the bar before Matar�s 44th minute strike drifted just wide of Gordan�s far post.
It took until the 60th minute for the first noteworthy chance of the second half to arrive as Ghasem Hadadifar smartly controlled the ball on the edge of the area before sending a dipping volley that needed UAE keeper Majed Nasser to produce a diving save to push the ball away for a corner.
But it was the large contingent of Iranian fans that were cheering when their side finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute.
Substitute Gholam Reza Rezaei crossed from the right and Mohammad Gholami first crashed a header against the crossbar before then smashing the rebound against the woodwork, but this time Afshin was on hand to stab home the loose ball.
Afshin�s joy lasted just two minutes though as he took out Nasser when attempting to challenge for the ball, injuring himself in the process before the midfielder was then shown his second yellow card as he was being stretchered off the pitch.
The UAE were also reduced to 10 men with 11 minutes remaining when Sebil was sent off for a second bookable offence after taking the legs of Hadadifar.
And Iran wrapped up the win when Nori swept home in the 83rd minute before Abbas knocked the ball into his own net when attempting to prevent Rezai going clean through on goal in stoppage time.
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Doha: Coach Afshin Ghotbi is already relishing �one of the most exciting matches in Asia� after Iran swept aside UAE 3-0 in their final Group D match on Wednesday to set themselves up for a tantalising AFC AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011�quarter-final showdown with Korea Republic.
A game that had been short of chances at Qatar Sports Club Stadium exploded to life in the 70th minute when Arash Afshin put Iran ahead after Mohammad Gholami had twice hit the woodwork.
Afshin�s joy was short lived as he was shown his second yellow card two minutes later following a strong challenge on Majed Nasser, before UAE too were reduced to 10 men when Khalid Sebil was sent off.
But Iran then cemented their third win in as many games with an 83rd minute Mohammad Nori strike before Walid Abbas put the ball in the back of his own net in stoppage time.
Iran finish top of their group and face Korea Republic on Saturday in a battle for a place in the semi-finals, a side all too familiar to Ghotbi.
The 46-year-old spent five years in total with the Taeguk Warriors, first as a match analyst and then as assistant coach and though he admitted to having fond memories of his time with them, he is focused solely on maintaining Iran�s charge for the title.
�I am expecting a wonderful match and I hope the world too are ready for one of the most exciting matches in Asian football,� said Ghotbi.
�A lot of times coaches are facing a team from their country of birth while we are seeing many, many times where a coach like myself comes up against a team where they worked with.
�But my feeling is that Iran must win. It is my job to win as head coach of Iran."
Ghotbi opted to rest many of the players against the UAE that had already cemented Iran�s passage to the next round with wins over Iraq and DPR Korea.
The quality at his disposal remained clear to see as Iran ultimately proved too much for their opponents and Ghotbi was standing by his pre-tournament prediction that Team Melli will be holding the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 trophy come January 29.
�I am very happy with the performance of my players,� he added.
�There were many who played for who it was their first international match and it was great to give them their chance.
�But no matter who we play against or whatever selection we use, the Iranian players have enough quality individually to reach our goals.
�I believe we can hold this trophy over our heads on January 29, regardless whether it is Korea, Japan, Uzbekistan or Iraq that we have to face.
"I have had this belief since day one.�
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Doha: Coach Srecko Katanec conceded that Iran are at a different level to the UAE after the three-time champions maintained their unbeaten run at the AFC AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011� with a 3-0 win at Qatar Sports Club Stadium on Wednesday.
The Iranians, who had made a raft of changes to their starting line-up for the match, took the lead in the 70th minute through Arash Afshin, who was sent off two minutes later for a second bookable offence.
Khalid Sebil was also shown a second yellow for the UAE soon after before Iran wrapped up the win with a late Mohammad Nori strike, before the luckless Walid Abbas scored a second stoppage-time own goal in as many games.
While Iran progress to the quarter-finals, the UAE head home without a win at the tournament but Katanec could not fault the effort of his players, admitting they always faced an uphill task in a tough Group D.
�Physically we are not in the same level as Iraq, Iran or DPR Korea players,� he said. �It is normal that in the third game many players will get physical problems. Many of them were tired.
�Gulf teams are not prepared well physically. They are not at the same level as others because the players play in the local area. The likes of Iran have players from in Europe and this is a big thing.
�We were without some 5% of luck, we scored own goals so that is it. This is the reality; we played in a very strong group.
�But we played good football and we must lift our heads up and work hard for the future.�
The UAE had gone into the game with the chance to join Iran in the last eight and for much of the match they were the better side.
However, they were unable to make the most of their chances when they presented themselves and Katanec admitted that ultimately proved their undoing.
�Football is like this,� accepted Katanec.
�In the first game we had a number of shots on goal, but didn�t score, then in the second game we had 17 shots, hit the post and everything but didn�t score.
�Sometimes football can be really strange, but sometimes it is good because of this.�
With their chances of victory fading as the game wore on, Katanec opted to give some of the younger members of his squad the opportunity to test themselves against a team like Iran.
�In the second half I wanted to give young players a chance as I needed to see them at this level,� he added.
�I would not have the chance to see these players against such a strong team otherwise.� |