Team Melli

Team Melli defeated Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0 in a friendly match in Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium, Sarajevo on Thursday.

Iran PressEurope: Showing a promising performance, Team Melli acquired its second consecutive victory under the tutelage of Croatian coach Dragan Skocic. Iran had won Uzbekistan 2-1 in a friendly on October 28 in Tashkent. 

The first half ended with no goals scored. Charleroi's striker Kave Rezaei found the net seconds into the second half with a left-foot shot from inside the box. 

The Iranian team managed to block Bosnia's efforts for equalizing the match as the European team did not find significant opportunities for scoring. 

In the injury time, two substitutes proved qualities and doubled the lead for Iran. Midfielder Saeed Ezatollahi gave a through pass to talented striker Mehdi Ghayedi and he converted the ball with a powerful shot to the right corner of the net. 

Both teams played open football with Iran having a slight advantage over the host in ball keeping. In the second match under Dragan Skočić, the Croatian picked a well-balanced team in the absence of at least half a dozen regular Team Melli starters.

Despite the pre-match statement of the Bosnian coach, who reckoned that Iran’s defense was vulnerable, the match proved otherwise. Shoja’a Khalizadeh and Hossein Kannanizadegan formed a sold wall in the center while Mohammadi and Sadegh Moharrami were excellent on the flanks.

Team Melli worked to their maximum and managed to easily thwart the Bosnian offensive moves. Whatever filtered from the defenders, Abedzadeh masterly controlled his goals with perfect timings and solid catches. The Maritimo keeper is certainly becoming a serious contender for the number one spot in goal ahead of Beiranvand.

Iran played a balanced game and was clearly better prepared than the host.

Overall, it was an excellent performance and a perfect record for the Croatian head coach who is assisted by Vahid Hashemian. This performance augurs well for the team in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers that will start again in March 2012.

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