Bahrain emerged from Tehran with a scoreless draw and their unbeaten record intact as Iran struggled in front of goal in the Azadi Stadium.

Miroslav Blazevic's side dominated the game but, despite chances for Ali Daei and Ali Karimi,Wolfgang Sidka's team who kept the two-time World Cup qualifiers out.

The game kicked off on a poignant note as a mass prayer was said by the Azadi crowd in memory of the victims of the terror attacks on the United States earlier in the week.

Within eight minutes of the start, Daei should have given Iran the lead, the Hertha Berlin striker heading over the bar from Karimi's cross from less than 10 yards out.

Fifteen minutes later the Iranians did have the ball in the net when defender Yahya Golmohammadi slotted home after Daei's flick over the defence but the goal was cancelled out for offside.

Iran missed a catalogue of chances with Alireza Vahedi Nikhbakht doing well to beat the Bahrain defence before firing over seven minutes before the break while Karimi's long range drive was well saved by goalkeeper Hamad Al Ruwaie three minutes later.

And, with just three minutes left in the half, Afshin Peirovani thumped the ball just over the bar from 25 yards as Iran failed to earn the goal their control deserved.

It was much the same story in the second half with Al Ruwaie fumbling Karim Bagheri's long range shot and Ali Daei again missing with a header.

The result means Saudi Arabia, who have had a mixed start to the qualifying tournament, have a chance to close in to within a point of the Iranians if they defeat Thailand in Bangkok on Saturday.