Iran end Lebanon's hopes [VIDEO]

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Sardar Azmoun   Alireza Jahanbakhsh   Imam Reza Stadium   2022 FIFA World Cup   Hossein Kanaanizadegan  

Iran vs Lebanon

AFC - Islamic Republic of Iran completed their AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ schedule in style, eliminating Lebanon from playoff contention with a 2-0 victory at the Imam Reza Stadium on Thursday.

Goals from Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh continued Team Melli’s superb form on home soil and ensured they will go into Friday’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ draw full of confidence after an outstanding campaign.

Lebanon came into the Matchday 10 clash with the door to June’s AFC qualification playoff ever so slightly ajar, but a sixth Group A defeat meant Mashhad marked the end of the road for Ivan Hašek’s side.

While the Cedars came into the tie without the likes of Soony Saad and Hassan Maatouk, Iran welcomed back Jahanbakhsh, who missed Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to Korea Republic, and it was the Feyenoord star who forced a solid save from Mostafa Matar with the game's first real chance, a well struck 20-yard effort in the 19th minute.

Dragan Skočić’s men monopolised early possession, while Lebanon looked to minimise clear cut chances for their opponents, but the visiting side’s resistance was broken by a goal of beautiful simplicity, with Hossein Kanani dissecting the defence to find Azmoun's perfectly timed run, with the Bayer Leverkusen forward easing the ball home from 12 yards in the 35th minute.

Iran looked to be cruising at that stage, but the hosts were almost punished for some untidy moments in possession prior to the interval, with Hussein Zein sending a rare Lebanese effort on goal narrowly over Alireza Beiranvand’s crossbar in the final minute of the first half.

The hosts continued to live dangerously after the break, with Hilal El Helwe sending Beiranvand sprawling with a volleyed effort that went only inches wide in the 48th minute, but Lebanon’s slim hopes were finally dashed when the Iranian captain put the result beyond doubt with just under 20 minutes remaining.
 
Iran vs Lebanon Jahanbakhsh
 
Again, it was a Kanani pass that unlocked the Lebanese defence, with his lofted ball catching out a much higher defensive line before Jahanbakhsh beat Matar with a cultured side-footed effort which sent the bouncing ball floating into the net from 15 yards.
 
With their third successive FIFA World Cup appearance long secured, Iran’s latest win means they may still top Group A, with Korea Republic’s match against United Arab Emirates later on Thursday to confirm the group winners.