Iran join Brazil as the only teams to have qualified for the 2018 World Cup finals
:focal(167x134:169x132)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/04/12/3041129-62378324-310-310.png)
Updated 12/06/2017 at 21:52 GMT
Iran became the second team to qualify for next year's World Cup finals as they beat Uzbekistan 2-0 with goals from Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi at the Azadi Stadium on Monday.
Head coach Carols Quieroz and players of Iran celebrate after the match during FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier match between Iran and Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium on June 12, 2017 in Tehran, Iran
Image credit: Getty Images
Azmoun's goal midway through the first half set Iran on track to qualify for the 2018 event in Russia before Taremi added a second two minutes from time as Iran reached back-to-back World Cup tournaments for the first time.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/06/12/2105382-44102850-2560-1440.jpg)
Head coach Carols Quieroz and players of Iran celebrate after the match during FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier match between Iran and Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium on June 12, 2017 in Tehran, Iran
Image credit: Getty Images
The three-time Asian champions, who also missed a penalty just after the break, join Brazil as the qualified nations so far after Iran secured a fifth World Cup appearance.
The win means Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz's Iran team will finish in the top two places in Group A of Asia's final round of qualifying. Uzbekistan are eight points adrift of the leaders in third place and have only two games remaining.
The top two teams in each of Asia's two qualifying groups advance automatically to the finals while the teams in third place go through a series of playoffs.
Azmoun opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Alireza Jahanbaksh's through ball found the FC Rostov striker with time and space behind the Uzbek defence to roll the ball under goalkeeper Aleksandr Lobanov and into the net.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/06/12/2105381-44102830-2560-1440.jpg)
Iranian players celebrate after winning the 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Iran and Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 12, 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
Captain Masoud Shojaei squandered the chance to double Iran's advantage five minutes into the second half when he fired a penalty over the bar after Taremi had been bundled over in the box by Akmal Shorakhmedov.
But Taremi calmed Iran's nerves when he added the second goal late on by curling a low shot into the corner of Lobanov's goal to spark celebrations amongst the home supporters.
OUR VIEW
Iran's qualification will largely fly under the radar, but it should be recognised that it's is a major achievement for the national team. This is the first time in the country's history that they have qualified for consecutive World Cups and only the fifth time that they have ever reached a finals.
Topping a group containing South Korea is no mean feat either, but it is the manner in which they have done it that is truly eye-catching.
With eight games played, Iran have yet to concede a goal. That means their unbeaten and clean-sheet run has now stretched to a remarkable 19 months.
And while a goal tally of eight in eight games doesn't promise a great deal in terms of attacking threat in Russia next summer, it will take a good team to break down Iran's well set-up side.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement