Iran fights back to draw China 2-2

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-15 20:38

China's Shao Jiayi (C) celebrates with Zhang Yaokun (L) and Sun Jihai after scoring the first goal against Iran during their 2007 AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament Group C match in Kuala Lumpur July 15, 2007. China draws Iran 2-2. [Reuters]

KUAL LUMPUR -- Three-time Asian Cup champion Iran rallied from a two-goal deficit Sunday to draw 2-2 with China and move into a strong position to qualify for the Asian Cup quarterfinals.

The result left both teams on four points after two games, but Iran has a far easier assignment in the last round of Group C games against struggling hosts Malaysia, while China will take on Uzbekistan.

China took the lead in the seventh minute via a Shao Jiayi freekick that Iranian keeper Hassan Roudbarian appeared a little late to react to, and managed only to deflect it into the net.

The Chinese doubled the lead in the 33rd minute through unmarked Mao Jianqing, with his shot beating Roudbarian at the near post, again raising questions about the goalkeeper's positioning.

Iran gave itself a much-needed lifeline just before halftime when Ferydoon Zandi rocketed home a perfectly-placed long-range freekick.

After the break the match was transformed, with Iran pushing hard in a high-tempo affair permitted by the marginally cooler conditions and rain at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

China held out well against the tide until the 74th minute when substitute Javed Nekounam rose to meet a cross from the right and headed home an accurate and powerful header.

Iran remained on the front foot, but could not find the go-ahead goal as the referee dosed out a series of yellow cards.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei, who had to watch from the stands because of a one-match suspension, acknowledged his team "played badly in the first quarter of the first half, but we concentrated in the second half which gave us the equalizer and the one point."

"For the match tonight, we know that one point is better than losing all three," Ghalenoei said.

"We also realized that China will have a tough final group match against Uzbekistan, while for us, we will have an easier match against Malaysia," he said.

"We need to improve on the fluctuation in performance of our team if we want to be competitive in the next round."

China coach Zhu Guanghu said his team piled pressure in the first half and created many opportunities.

"So it was a pity that when we were two goals ahead, we gave away one point to Iran," Zhu said.

"It would seem that we have problems defending from free kicks because both Iranian goals came from set-pieces," he said.