Iran survive Uzbek scare

Uzbekistan's Timur Kapadze (R) takes the ball away from Iranian player Andranik Teymourian during the group C of the Asian Cup 2007 at the Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Iran survived an early scare to beat Uzbekistan 2-1 and take a big step towards the Asian Cup knock-out stages, but the victory was soured when coach Amir Ghalenoei was sent off.

Iran survived an early scare to beat Uzbekistan 2-1 on Wednesday and take a big step towards the Asian Cup knock-out stages, but the victory was soured when coach Amir Ghalenoei was sent off.

Normally unflappable defender Rahman Rezaei put the triple-champions in trouble with a first-half own goal before Seyed Jalal Hosseini levelled and substitute Javad Kazemian took the points with a late winner.

Combustible coach Ghalenoei lived up to his reputation when he was red-carded late in the match for throwing a water bottle.

"I was angry at one of our players who lost the ball very easily," said Ghalenoei, who appeared at the post-match press conference with a damp shirt.

"So I complained to him but the referee thought I was complaining at him (the referee), so I was sent off."

Iran trail China on goal-difference at the top of Group C with the top two teams progressing to the quarter-finals. They play China on Sunday and Malaysia on Wednesday.

"Thank God we started with a win," added Ghalenoei. "We didn't know much about Uzbekistan so we had to assess them in the first half. Also we were a bit nervous."

In front of a paltry crowd at Malaysia's National Stadium, Uzbekistan were the first to threaten when Timur Kapadze met a cross from the left and headed straight at Iran goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian.

Iran striker Vahid Hashemian, running on to an Ali Karimi ball, tested Uzbekistan's Pavel Bugalo at the other end with a left-footed effort in the opening exchanges.

But Rezaei put Iran in serious difficulty on 16 minutes when, under pressure from striker Ulugbek Bakaev, he nodded a hopeful bouncing ball over advancing 'keeper Roudbarian.

Despite the jolt Iran struggled to produce meaningful chances and it was Uzbekistan who almost doubled their lead when Kapadze headed wide from a free-kick hoisted in to the box by captain Server Djeparov.

Iran could have equalised near half-time but Al Emarat forward Rassoul Khatibi glanced his header wide from Hashemian's cross.

However, the regional heavyweights emerged from the break with renewed purpose and were back on equal terms within 10 minutes when defender Hosseini headed captain Mehdi Mahdavikia's corner down and into the net.

Uzbekistan's Aziz Ibragimov (C) trips as he is challenged by Iran's Javad Nekonam during the Asian Cup Group C match at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Iran survived an early scare to beat Uzbekistan 2-1 and take a big step towards the Asian Cup knock-out stages, but the victory was soured when coach Amir Ghalenoei was sent off.

Reza Enayati looked odds-on to put Iran in front when he met a cut-back at close range but his shot was scrambled wide.

Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekounam headed straight at Bugalo and Kapadze had a one-on-one effort parried away by Iran's Roudbarian as the game sprang to life.

But it was half-time substitute Kazemian who snatched it for Iran, running on to Andranik Teymourian's through-ball and finishing coolly with his right foot on 77 minutes.

"Everyone said we would be afraid of Iran because they're such a strong team but we also had very good chances to score," said Uzbek coach Rauf Inileyev.

"Iran are very experienced in the Asian Cup but we could have won it too. Unfortunately our players couldn't play as well in the second half as they did in the first half. It's a great pity."

Iran are bidding to break a 31-year Asian Cup title drought after winning three in a row from 1968-1976.

Uzbekistan were quarter-finalists in 2004. Their finest moment was winning the Asian Games title on debut in 1994.

Asian Cup tables

Group A

Results

Thailand 1 Iraq 1

Oman 1 Australia 1

Remaining matches

12/7: Oman v Thailand

13/7: Iraq v Australia

16/7: Thailand v Australia, Oman v Iraq

Group B

Results

Vietnam 2 UAE 0

Japan 1 Qatar 1

Remaining matches

12/7: Qatar v Vietnam

13/7: UAE v Japan

16/7: Vietnam v Japan, Qatar v UAE

Group C

Results

Malaysia 1 China 5

Iran 2 Uzbekistan 1

Remaining matches

14/7: Uzbekistan v Malaysia

15/7: China v Iran

18/7: Malaysia v Iran, Uzbekistan v China

Group D

Results

Indonesia 2 Bahrain 1

Remaining matches

11/7: South Korea v Saudi Arabia

14/7: Saudi Arabia v Indonesia

15/7: Bahrain v South Korea

18/7: Indonesia v South Korea, Saudi Arabia v Bahrain