PFDC – TEHRAN, A heavily weakened Team Melli, missing 11 players due to injuries and club duties, overcame Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 in an entertaining international football friendly in Tehran. Star striker Elvir Bolic had brought the visitors ahead early in the match, but Ali Daei's equalizer and Arash Borhani's second half goal sealed victory for Iran.

Equal first half

The few thousand spectators in the Azadi stadium saw an open and interesting first half, in which Iran had the slightly bigger share of the game, however, both teams created several scoring opportunities. Bosnia, also having to do without numerous standard-players, had the first chance of the game, when Bayern Munich man Hassan Salihamidzic’s effort missed target from close range.

Team Melli could have opened the scoring after 10 minutes, but defender Mohammad Nosrati had to see his header to a Kazemian corner be tipped over the bar by Bosnia’s impressively performing goalkeeper Hasagic. Five minutes later, a sloppy mistake from Yahya Golmohamadi almost let the guests break the deadlock, however, the veteran midfielder making up for this only seconds later, when he won the ball in midfield and set up the lively Kazemian, who’s long squareball found Arash Borhani inside the box, however, only to see the striking-talent waste the good chance.

Iran should be punished for the only two minutes later, when Kaabi totally forgot Milenkovic on Iran’s right defensive site, the defender’s cross finding goalgetter Bolic, who had little problems marking the 1-0 for Bosnia. Iran immediately took over the initiative, pressed Bosnia deep into their own half, but due to lacking precision, especially on crosses, Bosnia was able to defend the lead for half an hour.

Nekounam (header), Daei (freekick) and Kazemian were all denied by the outstanding Turkish based Hasagic. On the other side, Bolic and Halilovic wasted excellent opportunities from counter attacks, both being denied by Iran’s goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati, who, apart from some misjudgements of crosses, replaced the injured Mirzapour well today.

Seven minutes before the break, Iran finally grabbed the deserved equalizer. Nosrati took a risky but excellent solo run from the own central defense, found Nekounam in midfield, who played a perfectly timed pass to Kazemian. The pacey winger took a run on the left wing, his long square ball finding Borhani, who did not manage to hit the ball properly, however, the effort turned out to be the perfect serving for goalgetter Ali Daei, who smashed the ball into the net from close range.

In the final minutes of first half, a good shot from Kaabi was saved by Hasagic, while on the other side a good Bolic-freekick went just inches wide.

Impressive Navidkia-comeback

Young Iranian midfielder Moharram Navidkia again appeared for Team Melli after almost a year absence due to a knee injury, replacing the unimpressive Enayati at halftime. The playmaker immediately had an impact on the match, as he found himself one on one with Hasagic eight minutes into second half, but the goalkeeper eventually had little problems saving Navidkia’s lob. But Navidkia, despite obviously missing match praxis, added creativity to Iran’s play, knowing to convince with several good passes and solo runs during second half, before assisting the winner in minute 74.

Navidkia on right wing received the ball from Zare, who had just replaced the offensively well but defensively shakey Kaabi, and precicely crossed it to Borhani, who beat Hasagic from close range. Iran, however, had been lucky before, when Rahmati twice needed the help of the crossbar, following confusions in Iran’s defense.

A minute after the Iranian lead, Navidkia took a solo-run through midfield before setting up Kazemian. Ali Daei got himself to the end of the winger’s cross, but his shot was too centered to trouble Hasagic.

In the final 15 minutes of the game, barely any chances were created. Due to many substitutions on both sides, the flow of the game was almost fully destroyed. Only Bosnia’s most dangerous player, Bolic, came close to the equalizer, when the Genclerbirligi-man won a freekick in injury time, but again narrowly missed.

Iran’s headcoach Branko Ivankovic had brought three debutants earlier. Midfielders Jabbari (Aboumoslem) and Aghaei (Sepahan) as well as Esteghlal defender Sadeghi all booked their first caps for Iran.

The victory over a strong Bosnian team should boost Team Melli’s morale one week ahead of the important World Cup qualifying opener in Bahrain, when most key players will be available again.

Iran – Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 (1-1)

Friendly Match, Azadi Stadium, Tehran

Goals:

0-1 Bolic (18’)

1-1 Daei (38’)

2-1 Borhani (74’)

Lineups:

Iran: Rahmati – Kaabi (73’ Zare), Kameli, Nosrati, Badavi (78’ Sadeghi) – Golmohamadi (76’ M. Jabbari), Nekounam – Kazemian (85’ Aghaei), Enayati (46’ Navidkia), Borhani - Daei

Bosnia: Hasagic – Spahic, Bajic (88’ Vedic), Milenkovic, Salihamidzic (64’ Medvid) – Grlic (80’ Biscevic), Grujic, Halilovic, Baljic – Bolic, Blatnjak (76’ Ibricic)

Bookings: Spahic, Bajic, Salihamidzic