WORLD CUP: Nigeria and Iran in a lacklustre draw
their World Cup Group F clash in Curitiba on
Monday.
Carlos Queiroz's Iran side were always going
to be a tough nut to crack for the Super
Eagles, having kept the most clean sheets in
qualifying of any nation to reach the finals in
Brazil.
In the end, there proved to be no way through
for either side in what was a disappointing
encounter.
Nigeria boasted 70% possession over the
course of the 90 minutes but only fashioned
one shot more than the Iranians.
Reza Ghoochannejhad's header - well saved
by Vincent Enyeama - and Ahmed Musa's
free-kick were the best chances of the first
period while after the break, substitute Shola
Ameobi was twice thwarted by Iran defender
Mehrdad Poolani.
Victor Moses, on loan at Liverpool from
Chelsea last season, had Nigeria's first
chance in the third minute when he hit a poor
shot at inexperienced Iranian keeper Reza
Haghighi.
Haghighi looked uncomfortable when
pressured by the Nigerian front men and was
lucky to escape in the seventh minute after
flapping at a corner.
The ball dropped to Kenneth Omeruo, who
poked the ball in the net - but the referee had
already blown for a foul on the keeper by John
Obi Mikel.
Emmanuel Emenike was having some success
down the Nigerian left, with Iranian right-back
Pejman Montazeri struggling to contain the
speed of the Fenerbahce striker.
Ahmed Musa tried to cut a clever free-kick
inside Haghighi's left-hand post from a long-
range free-kick in the 31st minute but the
Nigerians' lack of cutting edge began to instill
the Iranians with confidence.
And their big chance came in the 33rd minute
when Ghoochannejhad met an Ashkan
Dejagah corner with a header which brought
an excellent reflex save out of Enyeama.
Iran continued to grow in confidence early in
the second half, when Ghoochannejhad
screwed a long-range shot wide of target.
But it had developed into a largely dismal
affair, with neither side looking capable of
challenging Group F rivals Argentina or
Bosnia.
Former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi
replaced Moses after 52 minutes and
immediately came close to connecting with a
cross from the left by Ramon Azeez.
And after Ogenyi Onazi drilled a low shot
straight at Haghighi, the Nigerians came close
to grabbing a scarcely deserved victory in the
final minute.
Ameobi met a Juwon Oshaniwa cross with an
effort which was superbly intercepted by
Poolani, then the same player blocked an
Ameobi header before the final whistle was
greeted by a chorus of boos.
Iran meet Argentina in Belo Horizonte on
Saturday, after which Nigeria take on Bosnia
in Cuiaba.
Culled from Sky Sports.
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