Kuwait 2 - 2 Iran (Video)

FULL TIME:     KUWAIT 2-2 IRAN
GOALS: Nikbakht (2), Hosseini (4) for Iran. Al Azemi (38), Al Rashidi (81) for Kuwait
Yellow Cards: Shojaei (9), Sinad (15), Saleh (20), Madanchi (47), Abdullah (56), Teymourian (72)
Red Card: Al Enezi (90)

You can watch the goals by going to www.iransportspress.com, and clicking on LIVE MATCHES.

Iran might have been happy with a draw before the game, but after going 2-0 up this must feel like a defeat to Iranian players. Kuwait didnt deserve to lose this game based on the way they performed. One might even argue that Iran was lucky not to lose. 

Iran has problems in defence. The left side was very much exposed, and Kuwait attacked mainly from there. In central defence we also had a lot of problems. With players like Beikzadeh, Gholamnejad, and Bengar just being added to the back four, we need more friendly games for these players to reach some sort of understanding between each other. Ali Daei must take some responsibility for some of these defensive problems. He refused to allow Aghili join the Team Melli camp late, even though Aghili had club commitments with Sepahan in Asian Champions League.

Looking at the bright side, after the 1-1 draw between UAE and Syria, Iran stays second in the group (Two teams to go up).

	Team	M	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
	United Arab Emirates	2	1	1	0	3	1	4
	Iran	2	0	2	0	2	2	2
	Syria	2	0	2	0	1	1	2
	Kuwait	2	0	1	1	2	4	1

18:38: FULL TIME: KUWAIT 2-2 IRAN
18:36: RED CARD FOR KUWAIT - Straight red card, for a two footed challenge on Sadeghi.
18:35: Another chance for Iran. Only if Iran had played like this in the previous 40 minutes of the second half.
18:32: Chance for Iran. Meidavoudi is one on one with the goal keeper. His shot goes just wide.
18:32: SUB for IRAN - Khalili is on for Shojaei.
18:30: Chance for Iran. Cross by Sadeghi is missed by Meidavoudi.
18:28: KUWAIT 2-2 IRAN
18:27: A cross from Iran's left is missed by Gholamnejad, and it is easily headed in, past Rahmati. 
18:26: GOAL FOR KUWAIT
18:25: Foul on Karimi outside the area. Beikzadeh takes it, and it was close, but goes wide. Iran has had a lot of free kicks outside the area, but not even one of these have been on target.
18:23: KUWAIT 1-2 IRAN
18:22: GOAL FOR KUWAIT - IT IS RULLED OUT DUE TO OFFSIDE: A close call. Lucky escape for Iran.
18:20: Foul on Meidavoudi outside the area. Jabbari to take it. His shot is weak and goes over.
18:19: There are only 15 minutes left. The crowd have gone quiet too.
18:18: Yellow Card for IRAN - Teymourian gets a yellow for fouling.
18:18: The game has slowed down, which is good news for Iran.
18:16: SUB FOR IRAN - Jabbari in for Nikbakht. Also another sub for Kuwait.
18:12: Rahmati is on the floor, receiving treatment.
18:11: Kuwait are on top. Iran's left side is exposed, and Kuwait is making all its attacks from there. Another dangerous attack on Iran's goal. At this rate, Kuwait will soon score another.
18:10: GREAT SAVE BY RAHMATI - A very good chance for Kuwait, but Rahmati produces a great one handed save. The resulting corner is defended.
18:03: Big chance for Kuwait. A shot from Iran's left goes wide of the goal.
18:01: SUB FOR IRAN: Meidavoudi in for Madanchi.
18:00: Meidavoudi to come in for Iran shortly.
17:58: Madanchi's free kick hits the wall. The rebound reaches Hosseini, who shoots high and wide.
17:57: Shojaei goes past 3 players. He is brought down on the edge of the area, YELLOW FOR KUWAIT.
17:55: Kuwait are attacking. No serious chances yet, but they this could be a very long half for Iran if it continues like this.
17:54: Two subs for Kuwait at half time. No changes for Iran.
17:50: We are underway.
17:49: Second half to start shortly.

You can watch the goals by going to www.iransportspress.com, and clicking on LIVE MATCHES.

A great start by Iran. A fantastic goal by Nikbakht, followed by a goal by Hosseini from Iran's own half inside the opening 4 minutes! Iran was in complete control of the game until the last 10 minutes, when suddenly Iranian defenders lost concentration on 3-4 occasions, and Kuwait managed to pull one back. The passing hasn't been good by Iran, and they need to try and control the game better in the second half. Kuwait goal keeper is very weak on crosses, and we need more crosses in the second half.

17:32: HALF TIME - KUWAIT 1-2 IRAN
17:30: 45 minutes are up. We are playing 2 minutes injury time.
17:29: Masoud Shjaei goes past 3 defenders inside the area, but loses the ball.
17:25: CHANCE for KUWAIT - What an amazing miss. Kuwait are completely on top. A free kick goes inches wide of Iran's post. Iranian players are in desperate need of the half time break.
17:25: Kuwait 1-2 Iran
17:24: GOAL KUWAIT. What a defensive mix up between Bengar and Hosseini. They have three chances to clear the ball between themselves, but they don't, and Kuwait player has the easiest task of tapping the ball in.
17:22: CHANCE FOR KUWAIT- Kuwait striker is through on goal, with only Rahmati to beat, but somehow they manage to miss the goal.
17:20: Beikzadeh from the left sends a ball in to the penalty box, and Sadeghi somehow finds himself in the 6 yard box. He has a chance to increase Iran's lead, but last ditch defending by Kuwait saves another goal.
17:18: Ali Karimi takes the free kick himself, and it goes over.
17:17: Karimi gets the ball outside the area, and tries to go past several player. He is foul. Good chance for Iran.
17:14: CHANCE FOR KUWAIT - A corner by Kuwait reaches an unmarked player who heads over. Kuwait's best chance of the half.
17:08: CHANCE FOR IRAN. Kuwait defence once again shows big gaps in it, and Iran had three players there to take advantage. But somehow the ball is defended and goes for a corner. Madanchi heads wide.
17:07: Corner for Kuwait. Defended easily by Iran. Chance for Iran to set up a counter attack, but Kuwait defends well.
17:05: YELLOW CARD FOR KUWAIT - Another foul on Karimi. Kuwait players are trying to turn the game in to a big fight!
17:04: The game is mainly being played in midfield.
17:01: YELLOW CARD FOR IRAN - It shouldnt have been, but Shojaei receives a yellow card for a foul.
17:00 A half chance for Kuwait. A long ball is not cleared by Iran's defence, and an over head kick by Kuwait goes wide.
16:58: YELLOW CARD for KUWAIT - for a two footed tackle on Karimi. He should be ok.
16:57: There are a lot of Iranians in the stadium.
16:53: Chance for Kuwait, but Rahmati saves nicely. The resulting corner is defended easily by Iran.
16:52: A high ball in to Kuwait's penalty box, and it should have been an easy catch for the keeper, but he somehow misses the ball, and its another sweet goal for Iran.
16:51: KUWAIT 0 - 2  IRAN
16:50: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL IRAAAAAAAANNNNNN
16:48: An amazing start for Iran. Nikbakt with a BRILLIANT over head kick gives Iran a dream start in minute 2.
16:47: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL IRAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN
16:45: GAME KICKS OFF.
16:42: It seems like Iran will line up a 4-2-3-1 formation. Still not sure who will play as a striker. Either Madanchi or Nikbakht. Will soon find out.
16:40: Iran is wearing white. Kuwait is in blue.
16:35: 10 minutes to kick off. The stadium is full.
16:33: So Kaebi and Khalili are dropped from the lineup, and Gholamnejad and Madanchi come in.
16:23: Some very interesting results across Asia today. Here are the pick of them:
Full time: Bahrain 1-0 Japan
Full time: Uzbekistan 3-0 Saudi Arabia
Full Time: North Korea 0-0 South Korea
Full Time: Syria 1-1 UAE

16:19: Some good news. In the other World Cup qualifier in Iran's group, the game between Syria and UAE finished 1-1. A very good result for Iran!
16:17: We are less than 30 minutes away from the kick off.
16:17: Hello and welcome to the live text coverage of Kuwait - Iran game on iransportspress.com.


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