Tehran:
the-afc.com
Late goals from Mehdi Mohebi, Mehdi Taremi and Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh earned Iran a 3-0 win over 10-man DPR Korea at the Azadi Stadium on Tuesday to seal top spot in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26.
The visitors frustrated Amir Ghalenoi’s side until Kye Tam was sent off for a foul on Omid Noorafkan with 24 minutes remaining and the Iranians took advantage, with Mohebi putting his side ahead in the 74th minute and Taremi adding the second three minutes later.
Hosseinzadeh completed the scoring three minutes into injury time with a composed finish on the run.
Victory confirmed the Iranians, who secured their qualification for the FIFA World Cup in March, as the winners of Group A ahead Uzbekistan while DPR Korea finished rooted to the bottom of the standings at the completion of the third phase of the AFC Asian Qualifiers.
Iranian captain Taremi had presented the DPR Korea defence with a constant threat throughout the opening exchanges, the Inter Milan forward forcing goalkeeper Kang Ju Hyok into a pair of early saves.
His first attempt came in the ninth minute as he unleashed a low drive from 20 yards out that Kang did well to keep out with a dive to his right.
Kang was on hand two minutes later to deny Arya Yousefi’s attempt from the corner of the penalty area while Taremi was frustrated at much closer range, the striker seeing his attempt to side foot an effort from seven yards out blocked by the goalkeeper.
The Iranian pressure continued with Mohebi powering a left-foot drive towards goal from outside the area, but the shot just drifted wide.
After weathering that initial period of dominance from the home side, DPR Korea started to impose themselves on proceedings. Ra Myong Song’s first-time effort was blocked by Saeid Ezatolahi in the 26th minute as Sin Yong Nam’s side finally threatened.
However, the home side should have taken the lead seven minutes before the break. Mohebi was released behind the defence before feeding the ball through to unmarked Shahriyar Moghanloo, but the substitute somehow dragged his shot wide of the target.
Group A: IR Iran v DPR Korea
Having been second-best for much of the first half, DPR Korea almost went in front on the hour mark with Iranian goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini forced to tip Ri Il Son’g s shot from distance over the bar.
But Kye Tam’s reckless challenge on Noorafkan with 24 minutes remaining saw referee Muhammad Nasaruddin dismiss the midfielder and, within eight minutes, IR Iran went in front.
Noorafkan’s centre from the left skipped through the penalty area towards the unmarked Mohebi, and he slotted past Kang.
Taremi then doubled the lead with a downward header from eight yards out from Mohebi’s clipped cross from the right and Hosseinzadeh put the seal on the win when he raced onto Taremi’s pass to slot beyond Kang.