National cup

National stadium
Spectators: 14377 (Terracing: 10000, Seating: 4027, VIP seats: 350) Farshid Nateghi made the kick off and thus started the match. USA's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tony Pacheco in the 6th minute. The corner led to USA's Caroll Baskin getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kerry Sellers in the 9th minute of play forced Iran's goalkeeper Ahmad Abedzadeh to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kerry Sellers in the 12th minute of play forced Iran's goalkeeper Ahmad Abedzadeh to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Kerry Sellers took the ball and in the 15 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ahmad Abedzadeh. Ahmad Abedzadeh dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. 17 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Matthew Benjamin had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Farshid Nateghi. 20 minutes into the match, Iran's goal looked a bit too open when Tony Pacheco came free, but Ahmad Abedzadeh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 23rd minute Kerry Sellers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ahmad Abedzadeh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ahmad Abedzadeh showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kerry Sellers in the 23rd minute of the match. 34 minutes into the match, USA's Kerry Sellers sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ahmad Abedzadeh narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Matthew Benjamin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Farshid Nateghi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. USA's Matthew Benjamin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Anoush Khalatbari in the 37th minute of play. A collision led to Iran getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Shahyar Daneshjou hit a great ball. Ahmad Abedzadeh made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kerry Sellers in the 43rd minute of play.

The wind increased when Kerry Sellers made the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Ali Reza Abdi came free, but Matthew Benjamin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Anoush Khalatbari in the 56th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Matthew Benjamin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The Iran fans' excitement grew in the 56th match minute when Iran's Anoush Khalatbari looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. USA made a substitution. William Kerns replaced Donald Caldwell. Matthew Benjamin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Anoush Khalatbari in the 63rd minute of the match. Matthew Benjamin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Anoush Khalatbari, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. If Farshid Nateghi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ali Reza Abdi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Anoush Khalatbari in the 75th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Matthew Benjamin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Matthew Benjamin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anoush Khalatbari in the 78th minute of play. After 83 minutes of play, Iran's Nariman Mansourian made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Matthew Benjamin was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Farshid Nateghi in the 85th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Matthew Benjamin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 87th minute Nathaniel Burnett shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ahmad Abedzadeh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Matthew Benjamin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Farshid Nateghi, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. Matthew Benjamin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anoush Khalatbari in the 90th minute of play. USA were awarded a corner in the 95th minute after Iran's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Tony Pacheco took the corner. Iran's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.