Paraguay wins Tehran tourney title, Togo pays the penalty

MNA – Paraguay Sunday lifted the trophy of the four-nation Tehran Peaceful Tournament with a 1-0 win over Macedonia and Iran beat Togo 2-0 on penalties in the third-place playoff.
Dante Lopez scored the winner from close range in the 11th minute of the insipid final in an almost empty Azadi Stadium.

Macedonia, which dispatched the second string of national side to the capital, never targeted Paraguay’s woodwork before the closing minutes.

Lopez could double his own and team’s scoring on 88 minutes when he had only keeper Sasha Ilich to beat, but his low drive passed wide the far post.

Paraguay came from 2-1 down to beat Togo 4-2 in their opening game Friday.

Earlier in the day, Iran capitalized on Togo’s defending blunders in the area, extracting a displeasing win.

Right winger Hossein Ka’bi was tripped in the box on 12 minutes and veteran skipper Ali Daei made it 1-0 after three attempts, of which the first two were ruled out for players’ early advance to the area.

Hanover 96 striker Vahid Hashemian made a spectacular solo effort nine minutes later before leaving Daei alone with the unguarded net, but the slow captain’s kick was deflected by a defender in the goalmouth.

Hashemian made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 59th minute following a handball.

With five Bundesliga-bound internationals and Italy’s Serie A Messina fullback Rahman Rezaii, Iran was stunned 2-1 by Macedonia Friday.

Embattled Croat manager Branko Ivankovic hopes the lackluster victory will help reduce the pressure by staunch critics and fans.

Asian heavyweight Iran, the West African team Togo, and South American side Paraguay have qualified for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.