Superb Iran defeat South Korea to remain in pole position

Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN, Iran extended their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying round 3 to four matches with a very convincing 1-0 victory over fellow Asian giants and archrivals South Korea in Azadi stadium on Tuesday.

Team Melli therefore remains in the top position of group A, with 10 points, one point clear of Uzbekistan and three of South Korea.

Not only that Iran remain undefeated, they still haven’t conceded a goal. Even more impressive, in the two consecutive victories in Uzbekistan and versus Korea, no single shot on goal or clear scoring chance was granted to the high quality opposition.

Carlos Queiroz, the mastermind behind Asia’s tactical most disciplined team, again lined his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with the splendid new defensive midfield duo Saeid Ezatollahi and Ehsan Hajsafi totally controlling the center of the field against the visitor’s star midfield.

In offense, Sardar Azmoun, Ashkan Dejagah and Alireza Jahanbakhsh returned to the starting lineup.

Meanwhile South Korea opted for a more reactive formation, leaving both tall centerforward options on the bench and moving Ji Dongwon into the center of their attack.

But Ji, Son & Co. where totally neutralized by Iran’s defense while the offense outplayed their opposition on numerous occassions. Morteza Pouraliganji (offside), Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun and Vahid Amiri, however, failed to capitalize on their good opportunities.

One of Iran’s splendidly built-up attacks then led to the 1-0, when Ramin Rezaeian was inscened on the right and his flat cross found Azmoun in center, who scored in goalgetter style with a one-touch shot.

Whoever was waiting for South Korean attacking football had to wait for the second half, when Iran increasinly started to pull back and decrease tempo, but the guests failed to seriously trouble Asia’s best defensive line until the final whistle.

On the other side, Iran had some more good opportunities to increase the lead, but sloppy finishing and bad decisions in the final third rescued the Koreans.

So the match ended in a 1-0 victory for Carlos Queiroz’s men, who will conclude the year with an away match against Syria in November.

Iran – South Korea 1-0 (1-0)
World Cup qualifying round 3, Azadi Stadium, Tehran

Goal: 1-0 Sardar Azmoun (25′ / assist by Ramin Rezaeian)

Iran’s lineup: Beiranvand – Rezaeian, Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Mohammadi – Ezatollahi, Hajsafi – Jahanbakhsh (82′ Taremi), Dejagah, Amiri – Azmoun (86′ Teymourian)

Iranian players booked: Azmoun