Ireland halfway to World Cup after 2-0 win over Iran

DUBLIN, Nov 10 (AFP)
Ireland took a giant step towards a place in next year's World Cup finals here Saturday with a 2-0 victory against Iran in their first leg playoff clash.
Goals in each half from Leeds United duo Ian Harte and Robbie Keane secured a precious win that leaves Mick McCarthy's side favourites to claim a ticket to Japan and South Korea going into Thursday's second leg in Tehran.
Ireland were well worth the victory but Iran made them work hard for the result, and carved out two gilt-edged second half chances that suggests the Irish might not necessarily have it all their way in next week's return.
"I am very satisfied with that," Ireland boss McCarthy said. "At no stage this week did I think that all we would have to do is turn up, attack, attack attack and walk away with a 4-0 win.
"It was never going to be that sort of game. Iran are a good side - they were well organised, they defended very well and they made it difficult for us to break them down
"If you'd offered me a 2-0 win before the match I would have taken it. Is it going to be enough? I'll tell you next Friday morning," McCarthy said. "If they don't score on Thursday night then it's enough," he said.
McCarthy's Iranian counterpart, the experienced Croat coach Miroslav Blazevic, put a brave face on the defeat and said his side had not given up hope of turning the tie around.
"Ireland absolutely deserved to win," Blazevic said. "But our players showed how well they can play in the second half and that gives me hope.
"It will be a completely different game. We will try everything and give it our best. We can still qualify," said Blazevic, who guided Croatia to third place at the 1998 World Cup.
The fact that Ireland's defence managed to emerge from the Lansdowne Road tie without conceding an away goal leaves Blazevic's team with a mammoth task if they are to deny McCarthy's men a World Cup spot.
For the opening 45 minutes the Iranians had proved every bit as difficult to break down as McCarthy warned his team they would be.
Lining up in a 3-5-2 formation, the Asian visitors invariably dropped deep and with captain Ali Daei of Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin tracking back from centre-forward Ireland were rarely given time to settle on the ball.
Ireland's talismanic skipper Roy Keane strove tirelessly to keep Ireland moving forward, the Manchester United star winning back possession whenever it was lost and distributing passes intelligently to the flanks.
As the first half wore on, the previously compact Iranians looked increasingly vulnerable in the air.
Crosses and long balls pumped forward for Sunderland's towering striker Niall Quinn invariably caused panic in Iran's defensive ranks, with goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour in particular living dangerously.
Somehow though Iran survived, with Ireland having only a Matt Holland shot from close range that was well-saved by Mirzapour to show for their dominance of both possession and territory as halftime approached.
Iran did give fleeting glimpses of their ability.
Former Charlton midfielder Karim Bagheri looked polished on the ball and the forward line of Daei and Ali Karimi and SV Hamburg wingback Mehdi Mahdavikia showed good movement when breaking out on the counter-attack.
But all too often the final Iranian pass went astray, or too long was spent on the ball and the Irish midfield dispossessed them. Nevertheless, Iran had seemed set to reach halftime with the scores level until a minute before the break.
Iran's left-sided centre-half Rahman Rezaei needlessly clipped Sunderland's Jason McAteer for a clear-cut penalty and Brazilian referee Antonia Pereira da Silva pointed to the spot.p
Leeds United's deadball specialist Harte stepped up and blasted an unstoppable shot to Mirzapour's left to the relief of an increasingly agitated home support.
Just six minutes into the second half and Ireland made the game safe. A curling McAteer freekick from the right was cleared only as far as Robbie Keane on the edge of the Iranian penalty area.
Keane controlled instantly and smashed a scorching shot into the net with Mirzapour nowhere.
To their credit Iran responded superbly and Karimi could have scored twice. He squandered his first effort when clean through on Irish 'keeper Shay Given, his first touch giving the Newcastle stopper just enough time to beat him to the ball and clear.
Moments later Karimi almost atoned for the miss, roasting Harte in defence and then hitting his shot hard and low. Man-of-the-match Given was equal to the effort though, diving to his left to save.
Daei caused Irish hearts to flutter with a late strike that flew wide, but Ireland's defence held firm.