MELBOURNE: Bahrain’s hopes of starting the New Year on a celebratory note were dashed by Iran who clinched a clinical 2-0 victory yesterday in the Asian Cup.

Ehsan Hajsafi and Masoud Shojaei scored either side of half-time for Iran, who were roared on by the vast majority of the 17,712-strong crowd in Melbourne yesterday.

Hajsafi opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time when his volley looped under the bar after Bahrain had partially cleared a corner, while Shojaei doubled Iran’s lead in the in the 71st minute from another set piece.

Earlier, the UAE stormed back from a goal down to defeat Qatar 4-1 as they displayed their credentials with a fluent win.

Iran showed plenty of power down the flanks, guile in midfield and defensive solidity and, barring a number of dubious offside calls, could have won by more than two goals.

But that was the only real negative for coach Carlos Queiroz, as his team moved into second position in Group C behind the UAE.

Iran supporters had been raucously cheering their team for at least half an hour before the game began but it was Bahrain who made the brighter start.

Jaycee John struck an audacious volley just wide while Sayed Shubbar should have done better with his free header in the 16th minute, following Sami Al Hussaini’s clever chip over Iran’s defence.

But after Bahrain’s early flurry, Iran began to create some opportunities of their own, with Ashkan Dejagah failing to convert a one-on-one chance in the 20th minute.

Two minutes later Reza Ghoochannejhad dinked the ball to a marginally offside Hajsafi, who picked out the top corner and was consequently booked, while Morteza Pouraliganji volleyed over the bar from a free-kick.

Iran also had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark but were again denied by the offside flag and, after dominating the rest of the first period, Queiroz’s side deservedly hit the front just before the break when Hajsafi volleyed home.

The Iranians could have doubled their lead immediately after the restart with Ghoochannejhad bursting onto Hajsafi’s pass before firing wide.

The miss was moot, however, as the Charlton Athletic striker would have been denied a goal due to an incorrectly raised offside flag.

But apart from Ghoochannejhad’s chance, the opening 15 minutes of the second-half were rather tame, before John did well to bring down a long ball and then cracked a shot on target that Iran goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi could only parry.

Another poor offside call thwarted Iran in the 63rd minute as Ghoochannejhad tapped in from Shojaei’s cut-back.

But there was no problem eight minutes later when Shojaei volleyed Andranik Teymourian’s corner inside the far post to cap off a fine performance by Iran.

Iran’s Asian Cup drought dates back to 1976, when they won the third of three successive titles.

“Bahrain started the game better than us for the first 10 minutes until we were able to settle down our game,” Queiroz said. “It was necessary to play with full concentration and true fighting spirit to stop the movements of Bahrain.

“After the first ten minutes I think we controlled the game and we created the best opportunities in the game. We scored and I think we deserved to win,” the Portuguese-born coach added.

“The Iran team is very strong,” Bahrain coach Marjan Eid said.

“I would like to thank my players. We lost three points, but my players did a good job and we have some chance in the second and third matches.”