Iran Soccer History: 2007 Asian Championship Qualifiers (February 2006)

The next version of the Asian Championship included a number of changes. With the Summer Olympic Games and the European Football Championship also held in the same year as the Asian Cup, the AFC changed their tradition and scheduled their continental tournament a year earlier, and every four years henceforth beginning in 2007. Following their switch from Oceania to the AFC, Australia participated for the first time. Also for the first time the defending champions (Japan) were required to take part in the qualification process. The competition was co-hosted by four nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam) and as such only 12 qualifying spots were up for grabs.

Iran was grouped with Taiwan, South Korea and Syria while the top two teams would advance to the finals. Iran would begin its campaign prior to the World Cup finals as it hosted Taiwan.

Missing their European contingent and fielding only one non-domestic based player (Nekounam), they defeated Taiwan 4-0 with goals from Teymourian, Madanchi (2) and Daei.

Iran’s campaign would resume after the World Cup and now under the guidance of former Iran international Ghalenoei. Ghalenoei would keep most of the World Cup roster intact with the exception of Daei and Golmohammadi who had announced their international retirement following the World Cup.

In his first qualifier in charge, Ghalenoei faced Syria in Tehran.

Enayati and Mahdavikia, the team's newly installed captain, would all come close to scoring in the opening 30 minutes but ultimately they would fail to unlock the Syrian defense. Khatibi would eventually score but only for it to be called back due to an offside infringement. Iran would finally take the lead in the 71st minute when Nekounam found a way past the Syrian keeper and the ball being deflected across the goal line by a defender. But with two minutes left in the game, Syria would head home for Ghalenoei’s debut to end in a disappointing 1-1 tie.

Iran next faced South Korea away.

With Korea attacking at a high tempo, Iran was content to defend in numbers and look for counter-attacking opportunities. Karimi came close in the first half after picking up a loose ball and shooting wide of the left post. Korea would take the lead just before halftime following a freekick where they rose above the Iranian defense to head the ball in the bottom right corner of Mirzapour's net. Mirzapour had a bust second half and came to Iran’s rescue a number of times, most notably as he scrambled to reach a spectacular overhead kick from the edge of the box. But with virtually the last kick of the game, Hashemian would score to earn his side a 1-1 draw. A lack of communication between two Korean defenders and their onrushing goalkeeper led to Hashemian robbing the defender on the edge of the area and deftly lobbing the ball over the stranded keeper and into the back of the net to earn Iran a share of the spoils.

Iran would travel to Syria to face their hosts in their first of their return matches. Mahdavikia would float a freekick into the box which Nosrati would head in for Iran’s first goal. Syria would hit the woodwork shortly after halftime but Mahdavikia would turn provider again when Nekounam headed his corner kick in to double Iran’s lead. Iranian defender Sadeghi would receive his marching orders in injury time although by then the game had already been settled.

Away to Taiwan, a Karimi double was enough to see Iran defeat their hosts. He would open the scoring in the 11th minute with a simple tap-in after some slick interplay from Nekounam and Mahdavikia carved up space in Taiwan’s defense. Karimi would squander two opportunities before scoring again. He first shot shot embarrassingly wide after the keeper spilled a Mahdavikia cross and the ball fell invitingly to his feet. A minute later his shot was saved from close range after Mahdavikia’s cross bounced off a Taiwan defender and landed at the feet of Karimi via the crossbar. He finally got his second goal 12 minutes into the second half when he flicked the ball over the keeper with the outside of his right foot after being set up by Enayati. In spite of playing a man up for the final 15 minutes, Iran would score no more although it would not matter as the three points from this match ensured Iran’s qualification to the Asian Cup finals.

Despite having already secured safe passage to the Asian Championship, Ghalenoei sent out a near full-strength side against South Korea with only the injured Mahdavikia and Rezaei absent.

Nikbakht would almost give Iran the lead after just two minutes but his half-volley cannoned off the underside of the crossbar. Iran continued to pressure the Koreans with the German-based duo of Karimi and Hashemian both coming close. Yet the visitors almost snatched the lead just before half-time. Iran keeper Roudbarian did well to block a swerving freekick but needed a teammate positioned on the line to stop the follow-up shot from the rebound. Three minutes after the interval Iran would take the lead when Enayati powered past the Korean defense to head home a pinpoint cross from Teymourian. Khatibi believed he had been taken down illegally in the box but the ref waived it off. Badamaki settled the game when he charged forward to meg the Korean keeper in the last minute.