(adds Iran coach quotes, 6-8 paras)
By Iain Rogers
LEIPZIG, June 21 - Angola failed in their bid to
reach the knockout phase of the World Cup finals on Wednesday,
drawing 1-1 with already eliminated Iran.
Striker Flavio came off the bench to give Angola a 1-0 lead
in their Group D clash at the Zentralstadion after an hour, but
defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh headed firmly home in the 75th
minute to seal the draw.
Mexico finished second in the group despite losing 2-1 to
Portugal, who topped the standings with three wins out of three.
"We were not intelligent enough to defend our 1-0 lead but
I'm nonetheless proud of my players," Angola coach Luis Oliveira
Goncalves told reporters.
"Today's match was a little bit of bad football but in the
end I think a draw was a fair result. People were saying we
would let in a lot of goals but that didn't happen."
DESERVED MORE
Iran coach Branko Ivankovic felt they deserved more.
"We dominated the 90 minutes and perhaps deserved a victory
today," said the Croat. "The conditions were very hard but the
players put their heart and soul into the match.
"During the last few months we've had a few problems with
injuries but we can be satisfied with our performance overall."
Portugal will play the losers of Wednesday's match between
Argentina and the Netherlands and Mexico face the winner.
Goncalves again opted to start with captain Akwa as a lone
striker supported by a solid five-man midfield.
Akwa failed to make much impression on the Iranian defence
and was replaced by Flavio in the 51st minute after picking up a
groin injury.
FIRST GOAL
Within 10 minutes Flavio had scored Angola's first goal in a
World Cup finals, heading powerfully home from a perfect
right-wing cross by Ze Kalanga.
Iran had dominated the first half and should have taken the
lead in the 24th minute.
Veteran striker Ali Daei, in what could be his final
international appearance, rose unmarked at the back post but the
37-year-old sent his header sailing over the bar.
Shortly after, Angola midfielder Mendonca blocked a powerful
header from dangerous Iran frontman Vahid Hashemian on the line.
Iran's attacking potency was dulled considerably when
Hashemian was forced off just before the break with what
appeared to be an injury to his lower back.
They finally broke through when Bakhtiarizadeh was left
completely unmarked from a corner on the right and guided his
header inside the far post.