2015 Asian Championship Qualifiers (February 2013)

Towards the end of the qualification campaign for the 2014 World Cup, Iran also attempted to qualify for the 2015 Asian Championship. The top two teams plus the best third placed team amongst all the qualifying groups would advance to the competition. Iran was grouped with Kuwait, Lebanon and Thailand.

Iran would start this campaign at home against Lebanon, a team that had shockingly defeated them in the World Cup qualifiers. Ghoochannejad would open his international account in the 26th minute, receiving a pass from Jabbari and firing past the keeper. Two penalties by Nekounam gave Iran a three goal lead. 

With Lebanon reduced to 10 men, Dejagah perfectly fed Ghoochannejad for a close range tap in for Iran’s fourth goal. Nekounam completed the route with a deflected shot for a 5-0 win. 

Iran faced a Kuwaiti side away that had a number of chances to break the deadlock in the first half yet it would be Iran taking the lead. 

Just before halftime Dejagah made a strong run down the right flank but his cut-back from the byline was spilled by the keeper. A weak clearance only went as far as Jabbari who crashed his shot against the post and crossbar and fell to Shojaei who volleyed it in the net. The home side were awarded a penalty in the 76^th minute for a foul by Nekounam and converted it to ensure that honors were shared between the two sides. 

At home against Thailand, In spite of efforts by Dejagah and Nekounam the first half would yield no goals. 

Halfway through the second half Hosseini would break the deadlock while three minutes later Ansarifard would feed Ghoochannejad a perfect pass across the goalmouth for him to double Iran’s lead. 

Khalatbari and Ansarifard would rue their miss chances while Beitashour, a second half sub, would make his national debut. Thailand would score a consolation goal for Iran to ultimately win 2-1.

A month later in the return legs Iran would square off away against Thailand with Davari making his debut in goal. 

Unlike the home match, Iran cruised to a win in comfortable fashion. Dejgah scored the opener in the 28th minute with a shot from outside the box after receiving a deflected ball. 

Ghoochannejad continued his prolific scoring record scoring in the 42nd minute for his 7th goal in 9 matches for Iran. Substitutes Khaltabari and Jahanbakhsh combined late into injury time when Khalatbari dribbled past his marker along the endline before squaring to Jahanbakhsh who slotted the ball past the keeper for Iran’s final goal. 

Away to Lebanon Sadeghi would open the scoring just before halftime before Dejagah, Nekounam (penalty) and Ghoochannejad struck in the second half as recorded a fourth win in five qualifying games. Lebanon’s scored a late consolation goal but the 4-1 win ensured Iran’s qualification to the 2015 Asian Championship with a game to spare. 

For the inconsequential final game against Kuwait, Iran fielded a largely second-string lineup. 

Yaghoub Karimi put Iran ahead after just two minutes in Karaj’s Enghelab Stadium with a shot from the edge of the box but Kuwait tied it up in the 18th minute after the ball took a lucky bounce. Iran’s pressure paid off in the 61st minute when a ball from the right by Sadeghian was deflected into the net by a Kuwaiti defender for an own goal. With only a minute left in regulation, Kuwaiti striker Fahad Al Rashidi equalized with a touch as he was surrounded by two Iranian defenders. Just as it seemed that the teams would have to settle for a tie, Ansarifard headed the ball down and past the keeper in injury time to give Iran a 3-2 victory. 

Iran finished on top of its group and qualified for the 2015 Asian Championship.