AFC - Sardar Azmoun scored the only of the game as Islamic Republic of Iran maintained their unbeaten start to their campaign to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia with a 1-0 win over Korea Republic on Tuesday evening.
The 21-year-old Rostov forward netted in the 25th minute as Carlos Queiroz’s side dominated against the nine-time FIFA World Cup finalists in front of a crowd in excess of 70,000 at the Azadi Stadium to move on to 10 points from their opening four games.
“We earned a win against one of the best teams in Asia,” said Queiroz. “We are so happy to earn all three points as this win against a team like Korea Republic is worth so much.
“We analysed the Korean team well so their playing strategy during the opening stages did not surprise our players. We proved that games are decided on the field.
“We have earned two good wins against Korea and Uzbekistan and this is part of the road to the World Cup. But there are six more games left and there could be wins and losses ahead.
“It is now important to continue this run and try even harder to prepare for the next matches as these players deserve to qualify for the World Cup.”
Ashkan Dejagah returned to captain the Iranians after missing the 1-0 win over Uzbekistan with a calf injury while Korea Republic started with Koo Ja-cheol on the bench and Kwak tae-hwi in the centre of defence.
The Koreans barely mustered a shot on the Iranian goal in the first hour of the game as Queiroz’s side controlled central midfield through the impressive Saeid Ezatolahi and Ehsan Haji Safi.
Iran pressed from the start, with Haji Safi kick-starting a break from inside his own half in the 12th minute that, after Azmoun’s miss-control, saw Alireza Jahanbaksh’s shot deflected wide for a corner.
the far post and, with the Korean defence caught ball watching, Jahanbaksh was left unmarked, only to fire his shot over the bar.
Iran continued to come forward with Vahid Amiri’s weak shot coming at the end of another slick move that left the Koreans chasing shadows, and so it came as little surprise when the home side finally went in front.
Once again the Korean defence was caught out as full back Ramin Rezaein found space behind left back Oh Jae-suk before firing in a low ball into the feet of Azmoun and the Rostov forward scored with his first-time effort.
Son Heung-min came into the game on a hot streak for both club and country, but the Tottenham Hotspur man’s only contribution in the first half was to foul Jahanbaksh in the dying minutes, with the indiscretion earning him a yellow card.
The pattern continued into the second half with Jahanbaksh shooting over the bar in the 54th minute before a fine saving tackle from Kim Kee-hee denied Azmoun a shooting chance after another rapid Iranian attack. Soon after, Ezatolahi headed over the bar.
Korea Republic coach Uli Stielike grew increasingly desperate and, with 23 minutes to go, he withdrew Lee Chung-yong and replaced him with towering target man Kim Shin-wook. That prompted the visitors to throw the ball high into the box, but the Iranian defence held firm to ensure the Koreans failed to pick up their first ever win over the hosts in Tehran.
“Today the team that deserved it won the match,” said Stielike. “We were really bad during the opening 30 minutes and played disastrously and that was why we were defeated.
“We had good scoring chances in the match and missed one-on-one opportunities. We had to exert more pressure on the Iranian goal but this did not happen.
“I have said many times that we must emerge victorious in our home matches in order to qualify for the World Cup. It doesn’t matter against which team we play, we must find solutions to our problems.”