Iran were made to struggle all the way before eventually registering a narrow 2-1 success over Uzbekistan in their Asian Cup Group C opener at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday.
Second-half goals from substitute Javad Kazemian and Seyed Jalal Hosseini in reply to an earlier own goal from Rahman Rezaei proved enough to give Iran a winning - if somewhat unconvincing - start at the expense of a resilient Uzbek outfit.
Despite the slender nature of Iran's victory, the Persian side's win will undoubtedly remind China, who started with a comprehensive 5-1 demolition of co-hosts Malaysia a day earlier, that they will not have everything their own way during the group phase of Asia's premier tournament.
With South East Asia's hot and humid conditions once again to the fore, both sides started slowly in front of a sparse Kuala Lumpur crowd who saw the game's first chance after five minutes when Iran goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian comfortably gathered a header from Timur Kapadze.
Iran frontman Vahid Hashemian then had a seventh-minute shot saved smartly at his near post by Uzbekistan custodian Pavel Bugalo, before the Central Asians took a dramatic lead nine minutes later.
A long ball forward from Vitaliy Denisov seemed to pose little threat to the Iranian back-line, but under pressure from Ulugbek Bakaev - in the 1994 Asian Games winners' starting XI for the suspended Maksim Shatskikh - Rezaei could only loop a defensive header over the advancing Roudbarian and into his own net.
In the last meaningful moments of a largely forgettable first half, Kapadze came close once again with a firm header from the impressive Server Djeparov's free-kick, and Iran frontman Rassoul Khatibi flashed an effort just wide of Bugalo's left-hand post.
Roared on by a vociferous if small band of supporters, Iran started the second period in bright fashion, endeavour that gained its just reward 10 minutes after the restart when Seyed Jalal Hosseini easily escaped his marker to head home captain Mehdi Mahdavikia's inswinging corner.
Iran's revival continued apace when Javad Kazemian's run and cross was met by Reza Enayati, whose near-post shot from close range was smuggled behind for a corner by a grateful Uzbek defence.
Osasuna favourite Javad Nekounam then had a firm header well saved by Bugalo before, with the pace picking up in sharp contrast to what had gone on prior to half-time, the dangerous Kapadze latched onto a delicate Djeparov pass only to see his shot expertly repelled by Rodbarian.
Iran delivered what proved to be the killer blow after 77 minutes when Bolton Wanderers' Andranik Teymourian found Kazemian with a defence-splitting pass which the Al Shaab forward coolly slipped under Bugalo.
With the pressure starting to mount, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei was sent to the stands by referee Saad Kameel Al Fadhli for throwing a water bottle, but despite his enforced absence, Iran held on to collect a valuable three points as they bid to lift a fourth continental title.
Despite the slender nature of Iran's victory, the Persian side's win will undoubtedly remind China, who started with a comprehensive 5-1 demolition of co-hosts Malaysia a day earlier, that they will not have everything their own way during the group phase of Asia's premier tournament.
With South East Asia's hot and humid conditions once again to the fore, both sides started slowly in front of a sparse Kuala Lumpur crowd who saw the game's first chance after five minutes when Iran goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian comfortably gathered a header from Timur Kapadze.
Iran frontman Vahid Hashemian then had a seventh-minute shot saved smartly at his near post by Uzbekistan custodian Pavel Bugalo, before the Central Asians took a dramatic lead nine minutes later.
A long ball forward from Vitaliy Denisov seemed to pose little threat to the Iranian back-line, but under pressure from Ulugbek Bakaev - in the 1994 Asian Games winners' starting XI for the suspended Maksim Shatskikh - Rezaei could only loop a defensive header over the advancing Roudbarian and into his own net.
In the last meaningful moments of a largely forgettable first half, Kapadze came close once again with a firm header from the impressive Server Djeparov's free-kick, and Iran frontman Rassoul Khatibi flashed an effort just wide of Bugalo's left-hand post.
Roared on by a vociferous if small band of supporters, Iran started the second period in bright fashion, endeavour that gained its just reward 10 minutes after the restart when Seyed Jalal Hosseini easily escaped his marker to head home captain Mehdi Mahdavikia's inswinging corner.
Iran's revival continued apace when Javad Kazemian's run and cross was met by Reza Enayati, whose near-post shot from close range was smuggled behind for a corner by a grateful Uzbek defence.
Osasuna favourite Javad Nekounam then had a firm header well saved by Bugalo before, with the pace picking up in sharp contrast to what had gone on prior to half-time, the dangerous Kapadze latched onto a delicate Djeparov pass only to see his shot expertly repelled by Rodbarian.
Iran delivered what proved to be the killer blow after 77 minutes when Bolton Wanderers' Andranik Teymourian found Kazemian with a defence-splitting pass which the Al Shaab forward coolly slipped under Bugalo.
With the pressure starting to mount, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei was sent to the stands by referee Saad Kameel Al Fadhli for throwing a water bottle, but despite his enforced absence, Iran held on to collect a valuable three points as they bid to lift a fourth continental title.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
A-League striker heads to Iran
Olyroos beat Uzbeks, qualify for Olympics
