Iran wins Syria to take strong first step

Iran and Syria played their first match of the tournament in Jasem bin Hamad Stadium of Doha 17 hours local time and succeeded in defeating the opponent 2-nil. Amir Arslan Motahari (64) and Milad Mohammadi (73) scored for Iran.

Mohammad Khakpour, the team manager sent into the filed Mohammad Reza Akhbari, Rozbeh Cheshmi, Mohammad Daneshgar, Ali Abdollahzadeh, Vahid Heidariyeh, Mehdi Torabi (88-Ehsan Pahlavan), Milad Mohammadi (90-Mehrdad Mohammadi), Ali Karimi, Farshid Esmaili (55-Milad Kamandani), Alireza Taqizadeh, and Arslan Motahari.

The first minutes were a time for both teams to get familiar with the tactics. Both teams were making errors in correct passing. In 13th minute this was Iran to break the ice when Ali Karimi sent a kicker directly to the Syrian goal which the goalkeeper claimed safely. Minutes later, Milad Mohammadi faield to accurately target the goal with his shot which was only millimeters far from the vertical post. In minute 20, a cross by Mehdi Torabi was received by Farshid Esmaili within Syrian six-foot area, but he sent out of the goal. Syrians however were not so innocuous and created some threats before Iran’s goal, however, Iran’s goalkeeper managed to send out the shoot or by chance it found no way into the goal. It was 32nd minute of the match.

The first half was drawn without exchange of goals. The second saw more active paly by both, with Syrians being stronger in sending Iranians out of the field for treatment; the first replacement came in 55th minute when Milad Kamandani came out and Farshid Esmaili was in. This was a prelude to Iran’s attacks to create better positions to strike. In 64th minute, the attacks brought the bacon to Iran’s home when Amir Arslan Motahari scored the first goal of Iran as well as of himself. Syrians were restless to equalize the result; however, Khakpour’s sons scored again to create safe margin. Milad Mohammadi was the second scorer in 73rd minute. With this win, Iran temporarily tops the table of the Group A. In its second match, Iran will play the host Qatar.

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