Iran defeats Uzbekistan 1-0 in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier
Iran's national football team has notched up a deserved win over Uzbekistan at the third round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament to go on top of its group.
On Thursday evening, Team Melli was in control of the opening minutes of the Group A fixture staged at the multi-purpose Bunyodkor Stadium in the Uzbek capital city of Tashkent.
Iran’s midfielder Ehsan Hajsafi and fellow footballer Milad Mohammadi managed to penetrate to opposite side in the fourth minute. Mohammadi though did not powerfully strike and Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper Aleksandr Lobanov rushed out of his net and collected the ball.
Three minutes later, 26-year-old Ramin Rezaeian volleyed the ball towards the hosts’ goalpost. But, Iranian forward Reza Ghoochannejhad squandered the chance and shot out of target.
The Persians were geared up to blast and net the opener. They did not give up and mounted a counter-attack in the 20th minute, sending another long pass to teammate Ghoochannejhad, after which Lobanov grabbed the ball once more when the 29-year-old Iranian mishit it.
Finally, Iranian midfielder Masoud Shojaei directed an indirect free kick toward Uzbekistan’s net in the 27th minute. Seyyed Jalal Hosseini did not hesitate to jump high up in the air and hit a header kick to give his country the lead against Uzbeks.
The host made all efforts later on to break through Iran’s defense line and level the score, but all to no avail.
After the break, the Central Asians placed the Iranian penalty area under pressure in desperate attempts to score the equalizer. Their Iranian counterparts, though, were alert enough not to concede a goal and keep the lead.
It was in the 94th minute that Sardar Azmoun, who plays as a striker for FC Rostov in the Russian Premier League, sailed the ball to fellow midfielder Vahid Amiri to give him the chance to double Iran’s advantage. But, Amiri simply let the opportunity slip out of his hand and drove the ball out.
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