TEHRAN, Dec. 19--Iran's Croat manager Branko Ivankovic here Saturday voiced his pleasure at national defenders' performance during the friendly against the lowly Panama, IRNA said.
The Croat trainer, contrary to experts, believed his men in defense line played perfect football and did what he had wanted.
Iran, which had been depleted due to absence of top internationals, beat the visiting Panama 1-0 in Azadi Stadium thanks to a penalty kick, which was converted by veteran skipper Ali Daei into 38 minute.
The victory pleased Ivankovic, who said the win boosted the players' spirits. "Panama was not an underdog," said the head coach adding "Those, who claimed Panama is a weak squad, have now found out that they were wrong." Iran is prepping for the final stage qualifiers of 2006 World Cup in Germany.
On Dec 8, Iran, Japan, Bahrain, and North Korea were placed in Group B while South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait were drawn for Group A.

MOSCOW, Dec. 19--Mohsen Zakaria of Iran finished runner-up in the 17th World Student Judo Championships here Saturday, IRNA said.
The judoka, who represented the country in -60 kg category, overcame his rivals from Ukraine, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Armenia, waltzing to the final.
Zakaria snatched the silver as a Japanese finalist got the better of him.
But Iran was stunned as the medal hopeful Arash Mir-Esmaeili made an embarrassing exit.
Mir-Esmaeili, the country's representative in -66 kg class, was beaten by his South Korean opponent in the first clash and knocked out of the tournament as the Korean was booted out in next matches.
Earlier, Abbas Fallah had fetched Iran a bronze medal in -100 kg competitions and his teammate Hossein Qomi had lost and failed to qualify for the next rounds of -90 kg category.
Over 250 judokas from 41 countries have participated in world varsity event, which ended Sunday.

MADRID, Spain,
Dec. 19--Real Madrid rekindled their hopes of challenging for the Primera Liga title with a 3-2 defeat of Santander on Saturday, before leaders Barcelona conceded home points in a 1-1 draw with Valencia, Reuters reported.
Valencia came out strongly in the game, which brought four-match winning streaks to an end for both teams, but were soon hemmed back by Barcelona.
Barcelona were unable to convert their elegant football into goals however and Valencia, returning after the break with a far more aggressive game, were the first to find the net when Stefano Fiore powered in the ball in the 63rd minute.
An already nervous Barcelona were further undermined when Goalkeeper Victor Valdes was sent off 10 minutes later for handling outside the area.
But despite being a man down, Barcelona equalized with a controversial penalty from Ronaldinho in the 79th minute after the Brazilian went down in the area between two defenders.
Canizares dived left as Ronaldinho slotted the ball to his right to seal a fractious match.
Real also spent much of their match playing catch up, with goals from Michael Owen and Raul putting them back in the game when Racing twice pulled ahead before a last-gasp goal from Zidane in injury time clinched the win.
Michael Owen, relishing an unaccustomed place in the starting line-up, seized his chance to pull the two sides equal with a header after 35 minutes.
But six minutes after the break Javi Guerrero slotted in a pass from Benayoun that found him alone in the area, putting the visitors behind again.
Raul leveled the score 10 minutes later when he knocked a header from Walter Samuel over the line and the game looked to be ending in a draw as both sides struggled to find the net until Zidane sealed the victory.
Earlier, Levante notched their sixth match without a win when they drew 1-1 with in-form Albacete.

BAYREUTH, Germany, Dec. 19--Germany's Markus Beyer retained his WBC supermiddleweight crown after a unanimous points decision over Yoshinori Nishizawa of Japan on Saturday, AFP reported.
After 12 rounds the judges scored the bout 116-116, 117-111, 118-109 in favour of the 33-year-old German who secured his 31st win from 33 fights.
"I worked hard for this victory," said Beyer, who was nonetheless floored by Nishizawa as early as the second round but later paid his respects after coming back into the bout in the final rounds.
"It was unbelievable the punches he took tonight," added Beyer. Nishizawa, 38, said he was sad by the defeat, his 15th from 46 fights, but added: "The champion was better than me man to man. The final rounds decided the victory for him. I've shown what I can do," added Nishizawa who was given the vocal support of his six-year-old daughter at ringside throughout the fight.
"I'm not finished yet. I will keep on boxing."

Australia's Glenn McGrath (r) turns to get confirmation of the wicket of Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul-Haq, caught in the slips for a golden duck on the fourth day of their cricket test match in Perth, Australia, Sunday. (Reuters Photo)

MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 19--Paceman Glenn McGrath recorded the second-best bowling figures by an Australian in test history to power the home team to a whopping 491-run win over Pakistan on the fourth morning of the first test in Perth on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Resuming at 18 for one chasing an unlikely 564 for victory, Pakistan had no answer to McGrath, who took eight for 24 on a bouncy WACA pitch as the world's top-ranked side bowled out the tourists for 72 to claim a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The only Australian to better McGrath's performance was spinner Arthur Mailey, who picked up nine for 121 against England in Melbourne in 1920-21. Sunday's victory by Australia was the fourth-highest winning runs margin in test cricket and Pakistan's innings was their fourth-lowest total in test history.
Pakistan lost their first wicket of the day when Salman Butt was caught in the gully by Matthew Hayden off McGrath for nine. McGrath removed Younis Khan two overs later, snapped up by Shane Warne at first slip for 17.
Abdul Razzaq was then caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for one at the start of McGrath's ninth over to make the score 49 for four. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, forced to bat at number six after missing part of Australia's second innings because of illness and a back complaint, was then caught behind off McGrath for a first-ball duck.
McGrath had seven slips waiting but failed to make wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal play at the next ball outside off-stump, and the lanky New South Wales paceman was unable to achieve the hat-trick.
But Kamran was out for a duck in McGrath's 11th over when Michael Clarke held on to a sharp chance above his head at fourth slip. Yousuf Youhana was surprised by a McGrath bouncer and was caught behind for 27, making the total 64 for seven.
Seamer Michael Kasprowicz then took two for four in 3.3 overs to ruin McGrath's chances of collecting all 10 wickets.
Introduced to the attack in the 26th over, Kasprowicz struck with his sixth ball, clean bowling Mohammad Sami for two.
McGrath grabbed his eighth victim when he had Shoaib Akhtar caught at mid-off by Darren Lehmann for one.
Kasprowicz then caught and bowled Mohammad Khalil for five in the final over before lunch to end a dismal batting display from the touring side.

NEW YORK, Dec. 19--Shawn Marion grabbed a personal season-high 36 points and 14 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns eased past the Washington Wizards 110-96 Saturday to secure their status as the NBA's leading team, Reuters said.
One day after downing the Seattle Super Sonics in a battle of he two top in the league, the host Suns improved their record o 21-3.
Quentin Richardson contributed 19 points to the Phoenix pause while guard Steve Nash had 13 points and 11 assists. The surging Suns claimed their eighth consecutive win and 17th in 18 games.
In Charlotte, Jamal Sampson drained two free throws with three seconds to play in overtime to earn a 101-100 upset win for the expansion Bobcats over the Houston Rockets.
Trailing 101-97, Tracy McGrady hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the Rockets but it was not enough as the Bobcats celebrated their fifth straight victory at home.
Emeka Okafor, the second overall pick in last year's draft, sparked Charlotte with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Keith Bogans added 19 points.
McGrady had 29 points for the Rockets while Yao Ming chipped in with 16 points and nine rebounds.
In Orlando, Cuttino Mobley notched 19 points as the Magic broke out of a three-game losing skid to pound the Denver Nuggets 117-95.
In Milwaukee, Allen Iverson poured in a NBA season-high 54 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 116-97 demolition of the Bucks.
In Cleveland, Paul Pierce amassed 34 points and Gary Payton nailed three important free throws to help the Boston Celtics to a 114-107 overtime win over the Cavaliers.
In San Antonio, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each had 21 points as the Spurs destroyed the Golden State Warriors 104-85.
In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki posted 15 points and 12 rebounds as the Mavericks crushed the Atlanta Hawks 90-68.
In Detroit, Darius Miles hit a free throw with 0.5 seconds left in regulation to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a 75-74 victory over the champion Pistons.
In Chicago, Eddy Curry picked up 23 points and 13 rebounds as the Bulls downed the undermanned Indiana Pacers 85-71 for their third consecutive win.

AC Milan's Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko (l) vies with Juventus' midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta, during their Italian serie A football match at Delle Alpi Stadium in Turin, Saturday. (AFP Photo)

TURIN, Italy, Dec. 19--Juventus and champions AC Milan drew 0-0 at the Delle Alpi stadium on Saturday, leaving Juve four points clear at the top of Serie A after a game dominated by the visitors, Reuters reported.
Milan's newly crowned European footballer of the year Andriy Shevchenko struck the post in the 17th minute and with a minute remaining Andrea Pirlo fired just wide, while Juve created little.
Juve go into the Christmas break with 39 points while Milan have 35 and Udinese, who are at home to Lazio on Sunday, are third on 28. On the basis of the chances created it was two points lost for Milan but coach Carlo Ancelotti chose to look on the positive side.
Ancelotti was forced into a late change when captain Paolo Maldini pulled out with a calf muscle injury and 38-year-old Alessandro Costacurta replaced him in the centre of defense and in the skipper's role.
The champions were the sharpest out of the blocks and went close in the fourth minute when Brazilian Kaka fed Shevchenko on the right and the Ukrainian fired in a low cross which Hernan Crespo was unable to connect with.
hevchenko then beat Buffon, but not the post, with a firmly struck low drive from around 20 meters out as Juve struggled to cope with the visitors' speed and movement.
Argentine Crespo and Dutchman Clarence Seedorf both tested Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon while Juve's first effort on goal did not come until close to halftime when Gianluca Zambrotta's drive from the left was well dealt with by Dida. Just before the whistle for the break Milan's Brazilian right back Cafu forced Buffon into action again with a fierce drive from a tight angle which the keeper parried. uve lacked presence in attack and at halftime coach Fabio Capello opted to withdraw Alessandro Del Piero and throw on Uruguayan Marcelo Zalayeta.
The move made little difference to the pattern of the game though, with a couple of optimistic long-range efforts from Emerson and Pavel Nedved the most Juve could produce.

PARIS, Dec. 19--Monaco and Lille missed the chance of closing the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Oympique Lyon on Saturday as both sides were held to draws just before the winter break, Reuters reported.
Monaco slipped from third to fourth after being held 1-1 at home by Girondins Bordeaux while Lille, second in the table, played out a goalless draw at AC Ajaccio.
Lyon, who drew with Marseille on Friday, have 39 points to Lille's 36. Monaco are on 30 after being overtaken by AJ Auxerre who won 4-3 at home to Nice.
Bordeaux went ahead at Monaco with their first chance after eight minutes, striker Jean-Claude Darcheville diving to head home a cross from Julien Faubert.
Monaco equalized through playmaker Mohamed Kallon just before the interval and continued to dominate in the second half, Ulrich Rame producing dramatic saves from Argentina striker Javier Saviola and Uruguay's Ernesto Chevanton.
In the dying minutes, Chevanton squandered Monaco's best chance when he hit the woodwork while Saviola had a goal denied for offside.
In-form Auxerre, now on 32 points, produced the most dramatic performance of the day against Nice.
The Burgundy side went 1-0 up after defender Rene Bolf scored in first-half stoppage time only for Nice to hit back just after the restart.
The two sides then shared five goals in less than 10 minutes, striker Benjani hitting a double to seal Auxerre's win.
Struggling Paris St Germain claimed a 3-0 victory over Metz thanks to an own-goal by Mehdi Meneri in the first half, followed by a penalty by Perdo Pauleta and a goal from Charles Edouard Coridon in the second.

Kalle Palander of Finland clears a gate on his way to take the best time during the first run of the 4th Men's Ski World Cup Giant Slalom in the Italian northern resort of Alta Badia, Sunday. (AFP Photo)

ALTA BADIA, Italy, Dec. 19--Finland's Kalle Palander set the pace in an Alpine ski World Cup giant slalom on Sunday as defending champion Bode Miller struggled on an icy course, Reuters reported.
Palander, runner-up to American Miller in the giant slalom World Cup last season, clocked a time of one minute 15.00 seconds through the 52 gates of the Gran Risa course.
Canadian Thomas Grandi, seeking his first win in 12 seasons on the cup tour, was only 0.11 seconds behind with Swiss Didier Cuche lying third, a further 0.06 seconds back.
But Miller, who has already won two giant slaloms this season and set up a big lead in the overall standings, was 1.52 seconds behind Palander in 20th place after hitting a stone and damaging a ski. The American vowed to attack in the second run.
Last season's overall champion Hermann Maier was lying fifth, with 1:15.48, but his Austrian team mate Rainer Schoenfelder failed to finish the first leg after missing a gate.
Norwegian Lasse Kjus, who won a giant slalom in Beaver Creek, Colorado, two weeks ago, also slid out.
Local fans cheered as three Italians made the top 12, led by Massimiliano Blardone in fourth place with 1:15.22.
Davide Simoncelli, who won the second of two races here last year and was second in the other, was lying 11th, 0.86 seconds behind the leader and just 0.07 seconds ahead of compatriot Mirko Deflorian.