KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) :SUBSTITUTE JAVAD Kazemian struck in the 77th minute to give Iran a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in their Asian Cup Group C match yesterday.
The 26-year-old rescued a largely disappointing Iran side, who struggled to find their rhythm against the combative Central Asians.
Uzbekistan, with main striker Maksim Shatskikh suspended, took the lead on 15 minutes through an own goal by Iran defender Rahman Rezaei.
Iran levelled in the 55th minute when Seyed Jalal Hosseini scored from a corner before Kazemian emerged as the hero.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team's superior fitness was the key.
"When I took over this team, my first priority was to improve fitness levels," he said. "After 60 minutes, that was when we really started to dominate Uzbekistan because our players were fit and able to compete better.
"Uzbekistan prepared well and it was difficult getting used to the heat in Kuala Lumpur but I am satisfied to have a win in our first game."
The victory put Iran in second place in Group C behind China, who beat hosts Malaysia 5-1 on Tuesday. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile in Jakarta, South Korea and Saudi Arabia battled out a 1-1 draw in their opening Group D match after the game was halted for 20 minutes due to a power failure.
Following a cagey first half, Korea took the lead though Choi Sung-kuk in the 66th minute, the diminutive winger somehow rising high enough to nod home Oh Beom-sok's cross.
Saudi Arabia levelled with a controversial penalty 10 minutes later when Malek Mazz went down in the box. Yasser Al Qahtani stepped up to score from the spot.
The game was suspended with five minutes remaining after the lights went out at Gekora Bung Karno Stadium, leaving the players to wander aimlessly around the pitch for 20 minutes.
Play restarted when the floodlights were restored though most of the stadium remained in darkness.
The result left Indonesia at the top of Group D following the co-hosts' 2-1 win over Bahrain on Tuesday.
