Iran tie Oman in World Cup qualifying [VIDEO]

Persianfootball.com – MUSCAT, Jalal Hosseini’s strike from close range gave Iran a 1-1 draw against Oman, which is enough for Team Melli to maintain in the driving seat of their World Cup qualifying group.

Iran, without the injured Reza Ghoochannejhad, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Khosro Heydari againt lined up in the usual 4-1-4-1 formation, with Mehdi Taremi playin behind sole striker Azmoun, but again showed their unimpressive away match form and almost logically fell behind in second half when Vouri Ghafouri couldn’t prevent a cross across the goalmouth and Ehsan Hajsafi didn’t cover Al Mukhaini on the far post.

However, this seemed to be the needed impulse for the visitors, who drastically increased their offensive efforts then.

A freekick trick from Ashkan Dejagah, who instead of crossing sent Hajsafi down the left flank, then brought the equalizer, with Jalal Hosseini tapping in Hajsafi’s serving on the second attempt.

Iran remain in the top position of the group at halftime of the round, with eight points from four matches. Oman are second, trailing by six goals on goal difference.

Carlos Queiroz’s men are match-free on Tuesday, using the available slot for a friendly match versus Japan in Tehran. Net up then are a home match versus Turkmenistan and an away game in Guam in November. The two home games against India and Oman in March will then conclude the qualifyin stage of which only the first team of the group will certainly advance while only the four best runners-up overall will join the eight group winners in the final round.

Oman – Iran 1-1 (0-0)
AFC World Cup qualifier, group D

Goals:
1-0 Ahmed Saleem Al-Mukhaini (53′)
1-1 Jalal Hosseini (assist by Ehsan Hajsafi / 70′)

Iran’s lineup: Haghighi – Ghafouri, Montazeri, Hosseini, Hajsafi – Ebrahimi – Dejagah, Teymourian, Taremi (82′ Alishah), Amiri (60′ Torabi) – Azmoun (86′ K. Rezaei)

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdMMwzwbHg