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Iran in command after Asian Cup draw against China
2007-07-15
Iran fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with China and take the box seat in Asian Cup Group C after a topsy-turvy clash of the regional giants on Sunday. Shao Jiayi and Mao Jianqing had Iran 2-0 down and on the ropes inside 33 minutes before frustratingly negative tactics from China allowed the triple champions to hit back through Ferydoon Zandi and Javad Nekounam. Iran were confident of topping the group with their final match against doomed co-hosts Malaysia, who have already shipped 10 goals and needed a China win to stand any chance of qualifying. China are top on goal difference but they have a tough assignment against Uzbekistan, who are a point behind the leaders, on Wednesday. "We wanted a win but our second target was a draw," said Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei, who was serving a touchline ban for throwing a bottle during the 2-1 win over the Uzbeks. "It suits us because now we've got an easy match against Malaysia. China and Uzbekistan have got a tough match against each other." China's coach Zhu Guanghu defended his move to withdraw Mao, Han Peng and Wang Dong, who have scored five goals between them in the first two games. "They were tired so I had to take them off," said Zhu. "The first half was great, one of the best we've had in the past two years. "We had them under a lot of pressure and had a lot of chances. We went two goals up but unfortunately we gave them two chances." China got off to a blistering start with Han, a two-goal hero in the 5-1 demolition of Malaysia, hoisting an overhead above the bar in the opening seconds. Reza Enayati nearly put a panicky clearance into his own goal and goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian dropped a simple catch as China pressed the shaky Iranians into early mistakes. And Roudbarian looked badly at fault for the opening goal as he was unable to keep out Shao's blasted 35-yard free-kick on his near post after six minutes. Rattled Iran were struggling to carve out chances and it was Zhou Haibin who nearly doubled China's advantage as he put his shot just wide from another free-kick. But Mao was gifted the second when he was picked out unmarked in the box by captain Zheng Zhi, with time to control the ball and beat Roudbarian -- again on his near post. Iran finally came alive with Vahid Hashemian causing problems and skipper Mehdi Mahdavikia also having a shot blocked. Mahdavikia then cued up Zandi on the stroke of half-time, tapping a free-kick on the right to the midfielder who rammed it round the wall and inside China 'keeper Li Leilei to wrap up a pulsating half. But it was a very different second period with China intent only on defending their lead and Iran taking their turn to lay siege to the opposition goal. Enayati and Rahman Rezaei missed close headers before Nekounam got his calibration right from a corner move, nodding down and into the bottom right of the goal for the inevitable equaliser. Iran pressed for the late winner but were unable to land the knock-out blow as the promising match petered out to a draw. Iran are angling for their first title since winning three in a row from 1968-1976. China's best performance was in 2004, when they beat Iran in the semi-finals before losing to Japan in Beijing. But they have slumped since and coach Zhu is under orders to reach the last four "or else." Group C China 2 1 1 0 7 3 4 Iran 2 1 1 0 4 3 4 Uzbekistan 2 1 0 1 6 2 3 Malaysia 2 0 0 2 1 10 0 Results Malaysia 1 China 5 Iran 2 Uzbekistan 1 Uzbekistan 5 Malaysia 0 China 2 Iran 2 Remaining matches
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