Iran down bitter rivals Iraq in the Asian Cup

game was one of toughest, most exciting matches here, there was a lot of fighting spirit shown in the game.

DOHA: Three-time champions Iran stormed back after conceding an early goal to grab a 2-1 win over arch-rivals and defending champions Iraq in the Asian Cup.

Iman Mobali was the hero for Iran, his free-kick – which was an intended cross – drifting in with six minutes left for an emotional win that his side just about deserved. Iraq had the first chance when striker Younis Mahmoud fired from the far post in the 13th minute. Andranik Teymourian equalised the score in the 42nd minute after which Mobali ensured the victory in the 84th minute.

Iran now top Group D after the first round of matches.

Victory dedicated to plane crash victims

There was a brief period of silence at the Al-Rayyan Stadium for the 77 people who died on Sunday in an Iran plane crash. Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi dedicated the victory to the victims, and then admitted it was a “special” win in what was one of the biggest games of the tournament so far.

“When these two teams play each other there’s so much rivalry and history, so it’s very difficult to get the players to concentrate and focus on football and it becomes a fighting game,” said Ghotbi. “I was very happy my players were able to concentrate and get these very special three points.”

Iraq play down loss

Meanwhile, Iraq’s German coach Wolfgang Sidka played down the defeat.

“It was a very tough game and a very exciting game, a real fighting game,” said Sidka, whose side won the 2007 final against Saudi Arabia. “But it’s three points, that’s all. The defeat is like losing against any other team.”

Sidka described the match between two countries who went to war from 1980 to 1988 as one of the most exciting of the tournament so far. “It was as expected a tough match,” said the German. “The game was one of the toughest and most exciting matches here and there was a lot of fighting spirit shown in the game.

“It was a good end for Iran but the goal that we conceded was from an unnecessary foul and we knew before the match that they were dangerous when it comes to free-kicks.”

Iraq now face the UAE – considered the weakest team of the group ahead of the tournament – on Saturday. Another defeat for Iraq would leave them in serious trouble.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th,  2011.