Iran Edge Past Azerbaijan In Friendly

GOAL - Iran warmed up for the start of next month’s 2010 World Cup qualification matches with a friendly 1-0 win over Azerbaijan in Tehran on Wednesday.

Substitute Mohammad Nouri got the only goal of the game at the Azadi Stadium, scoring eight minutes from the end to give Ali Daei a win ahead of the vital match against Saudi Arabia on September 6.

The hosts made most of the running in a low-key match in the Iranian capital against an Azerbaijan team, led by Berti Vogts, that is gearing up for two September qualification matches against Wales and Liechenstein.

Iran’s European-based stars such as Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei of Osasuna, Bochum’s Vahid Hashemian and Andranik Teymourian of Fulham didn’t appear but will join the squad next week.

Azerbaijan also complained to FIFA about the decision of the Iranian Football Federation to appoint an Iranian referee for the friendly.

Ali Daei is set to take his men south to Kish for a training camp before travelling to Jeddah for the opening match of Group B.