October 9, 2004

Germany beats Iran 2-0 in friendly to raise money for Bam quake

Tehran, Oct 9, IRNA -- Germany beat Iran 2-0 in charity football match with portion of the proceeds to be allotted to last year`s Bam earthquake victims in front over 110,000 frenzied fans in Tehran`s Azadi Stadium.

Up to 25,000 fans also could not get into the stadium to watch the match. Germany went up 1-0 in an entertaining first half when an unmarked Fabian Ernst overpowered Iranian goalkeeper Mirzapour after five minutes.

In a more subdued second half, Germany again scored through Thomas Brdaric in 53rd minute. Iran had many chances but could not capitalize due to impatience of the players.

German national football team trainer Juergen Klinsmann called on his compatriots to continue their efforts to aid the victims of last December`s devastating earthquake in the southeastern Iranian city of Bam.

Speaking to IRNA here last week, Klinsmann said, "I think these horrific pictures which went around the world, have touched everyone and I think everyone sympathizes with the Iranian population." "One feels with the (Bam) victims and it hurts your heart when you see these pictures and I wish that these (relief) actions continue. If we can help with our national team then we will be happy to do so," he added.
He urged all Germans who are in the economic, sports and cultural sectors to do their utmost to help the survivors of the Bam earthquake. The friendly between Iran and Germany is expected to raise one million euros of which 400,000 euros will be donated to the Bam relief fund.

Starting line up:

Iran: 1-Ebrahim Mirzapour; 13-Hussein Kaabi, 4-Yahya Golmohammadi, 5-Rahman Rezaie, 2-Mehdi Mahdavikia, 6-Javad Nekounam, 22-Alireza Nikbahkt, 8-Ali Karimi, 9-Vahid Hashemian, 27-Sattar Zare, 20-Mohammad Nosrati

Germany: 1-Jens Lehmann; 6-Andreas Goerlitz, 4-Christian Woerns, 3-Robert Huth, 21-Philipp Lahm, 14-Fabian Ernst, 10-Sebastian Deisler, 13-Michael Ballack, 19-Bernd Schneider, 11-Miroslav Klose, 9-Thomas Bdaric

Referee: Saad Kameel Mane (Kuwait)