Iran book ticket to Asian Cup 2011
IRAN became the latest team to book their place in the AFC Asian Cup finals in Doha next January after a 3-1 away win over Singapore at the National Stadium in their penultimate Group E qualifier.
Hadi Aghily converted a penalty before further strikes from Mehrzad Madanchi and substitute Gholamreza Rezaei secured the three points while Noh Alam Shah grabbed the only goal for the hosts.
The result means Iran have the group wrapped as they sit top of the standings with 10 points, for ahead of Thailand and Singapore.
The Iranians had gone into the match as hot favourites and swept into a 2-0 lead in the first quarter of an hour.
The first goal was somewhat harsh on the home side after referee Sun Baojie pointed to the spot when Singapore defender Precious Emeujeraye looked to have won the ball cleanly. Hadi Aghily made no mistake from 12 yards and barely two minutes later it was 2-0 after sloppy play at the back from the Lions.
Madanchi pounced on a misplaced pass from Daniel Bennett and went through one-on-one and smashed home beyond the despairing dive of Singapore keeper Hassan Sunny.
To their credit, Singapore refused to throw in the towel and just after the half hour, they were thrown a lifeline when skipper Noh Alam Shah headed in Fahrudin Mustafic’s deep cross after the initial corner was partially cleared.
It should have been 2-2 just after the break when substitute Khairul Amri powered his header from point-blank range onto the cross bar with the Iranian keeper Mehdi Rahmati well beaten.
Singapore would then pay for pushing numbers forward in search of the equaliser as Iran sealed the match with a superb third on 63 minutes. Iran counter-attacked following a Singapore corner and substitute Gholamreza Rezaei found himself in space and lobbed Lions keeper Hassan with a brilliant chip.
The home side poured forward in the final 30 minutes but found no way past a well-drilled Iran defence and now need a win against Jordan in their final match in Amman in March if they are to reach their first AFC Asian Cup finals since 1984.
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