maij
06-16-2007, 01:56 PM
AMMAN – WAFF Championship defending champions Iran kicked off this year’s tournament with a scoreless draw with Iraq in their opening group B match at Amman international stadium on Saturday.
Iran went into the game with their second string squad which was strengthened with six players from their Asian Cup squad; Hassan Rodbarian, Jalal Hosseini, Kianoosh Rahmati, Hossein Badamaki, Iman Mobali and Mehdi Rajabzadeh.
On the other side, the Iraqis fielded their senior side despite that they missed the influential duo Hawar Mulla Mohammed and Saleh Sadir while striker Younis Mahmoud played only 27 minutes in the game.
The early minutes of the game saw complete dominance from Iraq but it was Iran who had the first threat as they nearly opened the scoring after only ten minutes into play.
Persepolis striker Hossein Badamaki received a ball inside the area with his back to the goal before making a turn and shooting a powerful drive which bounced off the crossbar.
Iran went close again in the 23rd minute when Mehdi Rajabzadeh powerful first time shot from six yards out was cleared by Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri to a corner before the 29-year-old striker had a clear chance to open the scoring but his solo effort was blocked by Sabri at the end of the first half.
Iraq had the upper hand at the start of second half despite that they didn’t create any immediate threat until the Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira introduced the lethal striker Younis Mahmoud in the 63rd minute.
The top scorer of Qatar league brought life to the Iraqi team who had their first clear threat in the 83rd minute when second half substitute Karrar Jassim passed a ball to Nashat Akram inside the area but the Saudi based midfielder could only send the ball on the face of the goal.
Younis Mahmoud nearly scored the winner three minutes before the end of the game when he sent a powerful free kick from the edge of the area but Iran goalkeeper Hassan Rodbarian saved the ball before clearing the close follow of Khaldoun Ibrahim.
The last action in the game was in the second minute of stoppage time when Karrar Jassim nearly sealed the win with a powerful drive from outside the area but Rodbarian saved the ball to give his side a share of the spoils.
Iran went into the game with their second string squad which was strengthened with six players from their Asian Cup squad; Hassan Rodbarian, Jalal Hosseini, Kianoosh Rahmati, Hossein Badamaki, Iman Mobali and Mehdi Rajabzadeh.
On the other side, the Iraqis fielded their senior side despite that they missed the influential duo Hawar Mulla Mohammed and Saleh Sadir while striker Younis Mahmoud played only 27 minutes in the game.
The early minutes of the game saw complete dominance from Iraq but it was Iran who had the first threat as they nearly opened the scoring after only ten minutes into play.
Persepolis striker Hossein Badamaki received a ball inside the area with his back to the goal before making a turn and shooting a powerful drive which bounced off the crossbar.
Iran went close again in the 23rd minute when Mehdi Rajabzadeh powerful first time shot from six yards out was cleared by Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri to a corner before the 29-year-old striker had a clear chance to open the scoring but his solo effort was blocked by Sabri at the end of the first half.
Iraq had the upper hand at the start of second half despite that they didn’t create any immediate threat until the Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira introduced the lethal striker Younis Mahmoud in the 63rd minute.
The top scorer of Qatar league brought life to the Iraqi team who had their first clear threat in the 83rd minute when second half substitute Karrar Jassim passed a ball to Nashat Akram inside the area but the Saudi based midfielder could only send the ball on the face of the goal.
Younis Mahmoud nearly scored the winner three minutes before the end of the game when he sent a powerful free kick from the edge of the area but Iran goalkeeper Hassan Rodbarian saved the ball before clearing the close follow of Khaldoun Ibrahim.
The last action in the game was in the second minute of stoppage time when Karrar Jassim nearly sealed the win with a powerful drive from outside the area but Rodbarian saved the ball to give his side a share of the spoils.