Iran wins lively encounter

AFP - IRAN has survived an early scare to defeat Uzbekistan 2-1 at the Asian Cup finals, in so doing taking a big step towards the knockout stages.

Defender Rahman Rezaei put the three-time Asian Cup champion in trouble with a first-half own goal before Seyed Jalal Hosseini equalised and substitute Javad Kazemian secured the points with a late winner.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei meanwhile lived up to his combustible reputation when he was sent to the stands late in the match.

Iran trails China in Group C on goal difference, with the top two teams progressing to the quarter-finals. The teams play each other in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, with the fixture likely to decide which team tops the group.

Uzbekistan was the first side to threaten in front of a paltry crowd at the National Stadium, with Timur Kapadze meeting a cross from the left only to head the ball straight at Iran goalkeeper Hassan Roudbarian.

Iran striker Vahid Hashemian, running on to a pass from Ali Karimi, then tested Uzbekistan goalkeeper Pavel Bugalo 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 the advancing Roudbarian.

Iran struggled to produce meaningful chances, and Uzbekistan almost doubled its lead when Kapadze headed wide from a free kick hoisted in to the penalty area by captain Server Djeparov.

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

Iran emerged from the break with renewed purpose, and the regional heavyweight was back on equal terms within 10 minutes, after Hosseini headed captain Mehdi Mahdavikia's corner down and into the net.

Reza Enayati then looked odds-on to put Iran in front when he met a drag-back, but his shot was scrambled wide.

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

Half-time substitute Kazemian snatched the three points for Iran, running on to Andranik Teymourian's through ball and finishing coolly with his right foot on 77 minutes.

Iran is bidding to break a 31-year title drought after winning three in a row between 1968 between 976. Its has since failed to make a final despite reaching the semi-finals on five occasions.