PFDC - TEHRAN, Iran's chances to qualify for the Olympics became even slimmer after the U23 again failed to score their first goal in the qualification campaign, struggling to a goalless draw in Tehran's Azadi stadium against Jordan Wednesday afternoon.
Olympic coach Vinko Begovic, who had to do without the influential suspended midfield duo Hossein Kaabi and Mehrdad Pouladi, again organized his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation and once more it became obvious that the Iranian team simply lacks quality in the offensive department.
The average performing playmaker Adel Kolahkaj by far was the most impressive player upfront - a circumstance telling a lot about the performance of Mehrdad Oladi & Co.
The homeside was the clearly stronger side throughout the whole match, however, despite their dominance created amazingly few clear scoring opportunities in first half. Leftwinger Milad Meydavoudi's spectacular overhead kick (24') cleared by a defender and the same player's header from close range going narrowly past the goal (33') were the only clear chances, beside a couple of dangerous scenes near Jordan's goal.
The positive aspect of the first 45 minutes was the Iranian defense, which only had one concentration slip and were lucky that Al Saify vollied the ball far over the crossbar from close range in that scene.
More chances in second half
The rather few spectators in the stadium then witnessed a different game in second half. 'Team Omid' remained the stronger side but took more risks so more good chances occured, however, on both ends.
Al Zahwari hammered a freekick just inches wide (57') before substitue winger Ehsan Khorsandi (66') hesitated too long after being inscened in very promising position (66'). Four minutes later Jordan's goalkeeper Shatnavi showed a great save against an impressive Kolahkaj shot from outside the area, but his Iranian counterpart Soushan Makani did at least equally well when he saved, but couldn't hold on to, an amazing Al Zahwari freekick and then also denied the following effort from close range another two minutes afterwards.
74 minutes into the match it was again Shatnavi's turn to impress, as he saved a good shot from Oladi. Just moments later a mistake by Ebrahim Karimi handed the visitors another chance, but fortunately for Iran the shot went wide.
The highlight of the game finally occured ten minutes from time, when Shatnavi deflected a corner kick into the own goal, however, the goal was ruled out by the referee due to a foul by Iranian defender Ali Nazifkar on the keeper - apparently a correct decision by the refereeing team which, however, angered Begovic so much that he was suspended by the referee.
The final minutes of the game, which (due to repeated and rather embarassing timewasting attempts by Jordan) was extended by six minutes, saw two good freekicks from Kolahkaj (83') and Oladi (86') going narrowly wide, a dangerous scene in front of Iran's goal after a bad clearance from the overall very good Makani (89') and a Nazifkar header being saved by Shatnavi (90').
Iran, like Jordan, has collected two points so far and already trail second placed Australia by three and leaders Saudi Arabia by four points. The first two teams will advance to the next and final stage of qualification for the 2008 Olympics, which will most likely take place without Iran's football team unless Begovic quickly finds a way to boost the worryingly weak offense.
Iran - Jordan 0-0
Olympic Qualifier, Azadi Stadium
Goals: None
Iran played with: Makani - Hamoudi (94' Goudarzi), Karimi, Nazifkar, Mirtorabi - Nazari, Ravankhah - Amraei (59' Khorsandi), Kolahkaj (C), Meydavoudi (65' Hamidi)
Iranian players booked: Khorsandi
Suspensions: Begovic (IRN/Coach/82')