Javad Nekounam - Lebanon

AFC - Three-time champions Iran confirmed their place at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup after ending Lebanon’s qualification hopes following a convincing 4-1 win in Group B on Tuesday.


Amirhossein Sadeghi opened the scoring just before half-time at Sports City Stadium before Askhan Dejagah, AFC Player of the Year nominee Javad Nekounam and Reza Ghoochannejhad struck in the second half as Iran unbeaten Iran recorded a fourth win five games.

And with Kuwait beating Thailand 3-1, Lebanon saw their hopes of a first AFC Asian Cup appearance since hosting the 2000 edition ended following a second defeat in Group B despite Mohamad Haidar’s late consolation.

Iran only needed to avoid defeat to seal their qualification, but took the lead six minutes before half-time as Sadeghi powered home an unstoppable towering header from a left wing corner.

And the visitors doubled their lead five minutes into the second half as Ghoochannejhad played a pass across the edge of the penalty area and Dejagah beat Lebanon goalkeeper Abbas Hassan with a composed first time finish.

Iran added a third four minutes later as Masoud Shojaei was pulled back by Ali Hamam inside the area and Nekounam confidently sent Hassan the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

And Iran’s fourth arrived four minutes after the hour mark as Shojaei’s deft chip played in Ghoochannejhad and the Belgium-based forward skipped past Hassan before poking the ball home from inside the six-yard area.

But despite seeing their qualification hopes ended, Lebanon’s night did end of a high note courtesy of Haidar superb individual goal with 11 minutes remaining.

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