Iran beat Saudi for soccer bronze

Wag2005 - Arash Borhani (IRI) struck twice to help Iran edge past Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the Men's Football Bronze Medal Match at the Qatar Sports Club Saturday 10 December on the last day of the 3rd West Asian Games Doha 2005.

The forward, who plays for the PAS club, eluded his marker to side foot home Behshad Ahrandjani's tantalizing cross in the third minute, and headed in his second of the night – and fourth of the tournament – off another Ahrandjani pass three minutes later.

Calderon Gabriel Humerto's side pulled a goal back in the ninth minute through Saheb Jasse Alabdullha.

The 28-year-old midfielder latched onto Fisal Nasser Bin Sultan's through ball and beat the advancing goalkeeper at the near post.

But thereafter the Saudis found the solid Iran defence too tough to crack.

Despite playing the final fifteen minutes with ten men after Jalal Akbari Kelishadi was shown the red card, Iran did just enough to hang on for the win.

Naif Ali Aloadi's miscued effort five minutes into stoppage time, when Saudi Arabia could have taken the match to a penalty shootout, summed up a frustrating evening for the disappointing Saudi outfit, which had to settle for fourth place in the tournament.

"We started the competition with a lot of new players but we played good matches and just lost once after a penalty shoot-out against Syria. But I am satisfied with my team in the West Asian Games," said Rene Rodrigues Simoes, head coach for Iran.