The Persians defeated South Korea 1-0 in a match in Group A of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan thanks to Reza Ghuchannejad’s winning goal.
Verbal wars between South Korea coach Choi Kang-hee and Iran coach Carlos Queiroz had raised temperatures ahead of the match.
The Koreans were dominant in the first half, but their strikers failed to score.
In the 59th minute, Ghuchannejad scored from a counter attack.
“Thank God for the victory. However, we could have been beaten by South Korea. I’m happy for having scored in the important match. I’m proud to make the Iranian people happy,” man of the match Ghuchannejad said.
Afterwards, the Koreans put the Persians under pressure and created some opportunities but couldn’t take advantage of them.
Iranian goalkeeper Rahman Ahmadi made two superb saves in the 75th minute.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President-elect Hassan Rohani sent messages of congratulation to the national team and the Iranian people.
Elsewhere, Uzbekistan defeated visiting Qatar 5-1 in Tashkent, clinching third place in Group A and a spot in the Asia playoff.
Iran finished on top of Group A of the Asian qualifiers with 16 points. South Korea also earned a berth in the World Cup by finishing in second place in Group A with 14 points, edging past Uzbekistan, which also had 14 points, on goal difference.
In Group B, Japan, with 17 points, and Australia, with 13 points, also qualified for the World Cup.
The top two teams in Group A and Group B of Asia qualify for the World Cup directly, while the third-place teams go to a playoff, with the winner facing off against the fifth-place team of South America for a berth in the World Cup.
In the playoff, Uzbekistan will play either Oman or Jordan from Group B, depending on the outcome of the match between those two teams on the night of Tuesday, June 18.
This is the fourth time the Iranian football team has qualified for the World Cup. Iran also went to the World Cup in 1978, 1998, and 2006.
MH/HG
MNA
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