Iran and Iraq played out a feisty yet ultimately frustrating 0-0 draw at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai as the highest ranked Asian team in FIFA (Iran, 29th) and Lions of Mesopotamia remained unbeaten at the Asian Cup.
After free-scoring victories for both teams in their previous two games, this was a very different encounter, with both teams’ defences on top.
Here are three key talking points.
NOT QUITE THE FIREWORKS OF FOUR YEARS AGO
These two sides clashed at the tournament four years ago in the quarter-finals, as the Lions of Mesopotamia won an epic knockout encounter 7-6 on penalties.
That was after the game had required extra time, with four goals scored in the additional 30 minutes after ending 1-1 after 90, with penalties forced following a memorable 3-3 draw.
This was hardly set up for a similar show as it was a dead rubber in terms of meaning, with both sides having done their jobs already by winning their opening two games.
There was still plenty of bite however, with feisty challenges flying about frequently and lots of players rolling theatrically around as referee Ravshan Irmatov had his work cut out – both sides certainly wanted the bragging rights of a group win.
But it wasn’t to be and the duo will now head into the knockout rounds looking to show their class once again.
IRAQ SHOW DEFENSIVE SOLIDITY
There wasn’t an awful lot of chat about Iraq coming into the tournament – with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea among the burning favourites for the Asian Cup crown.
But the Lions of Mesopotamia have roared in the UAE and impressed many neutrals. Heading into the knockout rounds they may not court the same attention as the big boys, but they have an exciting forward line that can cause problems, while their rigid defensive display against previously free-scoring Iran should make the other teams sit up and take notice.
In a bitty game that offered little in the way of attacking guile or ingenuity, the likes of Ali Adnan and Ahmad Ibrahim stood like giants at the back – with the late introductions of Mehdi Taremi and Ashkan Dejagah from the bench showing just how much Iran coach Carlos Queiroz wanted to win this one.
Having earned plaudits so far for their attacking instincts in 3-2 and 3-0 victories over Vietnam and Yemen respectively, Srecko Katanec’s side might well cause problems deeper in the tournament with their stoic rearguard strength.
KEEPING THEIR POWDER DRY?
The robust Sardar Azmoun started this clash, but Queiroz opted to keep Taremi and Dejagah on the bench, perhaps content with the talent he had at his disposal in the starting XI.
But both Taremi – lynchpin in the 5-0 opening night thrashing of Yemen – and former Fulham forward Dejagah were eventually summoned from the substitute’s bench in the second half to try and belatedly breathe life into Iran’s performance.
With passage to the knockouts secured by several sides coming into the final round of group games, it provided a host of coaches with a catch 22 situation – maintain their fine momentum or save their stars for the business end of the tournament.
South Korea coach Paulo Bento went one way in selecting star Spurs forward Son Heung-min in a powerful starting line-up, which paid dividends as the Taegeuk Warriors marched to a 2-0 victory over China. Queiroz went the other way and the result was a dire, unspectacular stalemate, although time will tell if the rest for the majority of his star names will pay off.
