Hashemian double saves Iran in Qatar thriller

MNA - Bayern Munich's new signing Vahid Hashemian netted twice to wrap up a badly needed 3-2 win for Iran over Qatar in the 2006 World Cup Asian zone Group One qualifier in Doha Wednesday night.
Dubbed Helicopter by Germans, the striker put the visiting Iran ahead in the eighth minute with a powerful angled drive from the edge of the box after collecting a superb pass from UAE's Al Ahly forward Ali Karimi.

Iran?s lead was short-lived as Meshal Mubarak outjumped defender Mohammad Nosrati to head home from close range on 17 minutes.

In defiance of heaping great pressure on Qatar woodwork, the Asian powerhouse failed to find the net before the break.

Iran possessed the ball and field after the restart but it was the home team, which celebrated the second goal.

Full-back Yahya Golmohammadi, who captained Iran in the absence of injured Ali Daei, slipped to clear a Mubarak Mostafa low cross in the six-yard area but he steered the ball past the hapless keeper Seyed Mehdi Rahmati in the 74th minute.

Iran's Croat manager Branko Ivankovic, who had vowed to give Qatar an unforgettable lesson, threw on the fast-paced striker Arash Borhani.

It took the substitute three minutes to give a positive response to the Croat trainer's confidence.

Borhani outpaced his marker in the area, grabbing the equalizer with a perfect lob over the hands of the advancing Qatar goalie.

Ivankovic fielded playmaker Khodadad Azizi five minutes from time, injecting new blood into his side's body.

Despite his cameo appearance, the nimble Azizi, whose spectacular equalizer against the Aussies in Melbourne helped Iran book a berth in 1998 World Cup, played a deciding role in his side's dramatic victory.

He had a goal canceled out by the Korean referee and sent a perfect through ball on 89 minutes for Hamburg midfielder Mehdi Mahdavikia, who hotfooted it to find the lethal weapon Hashemian, whose kick kissed the net.

Earlier in the day, Iran's archrival Jordan fought back to narrowly beat Laos 3-2.

Iran retained the top place in the table on 12 points for better goal difference.