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PFDC, TEHRAN
Iran booked a well deserved 2-0 victory over a depleted Korean side to finish the Asian Cup qualification on top of Group B. Iran remain the only unbeaten team in the whole Asian Cup qualification campaign.

While Korea Republic boss Pim Verbeek fielded mostly second string players paired up with a couple of national team regulars, his counterpart Amir Ghalenoei fielded the strongest available team in a 3-5-2 formation, however, had to do without injured keyplayers Mehdi Mahdavikia (Hamburg), Rahman Rezaei (Livorno) and standard goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour.

Iran overtook control from the start and should have striked early, when a Karimi corner got to leftwinger Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi who’s good effort was denied by the crossbar. Amir-Hossein Sadeghi’s goal just moments later was rightfully ruled out due to the defender’s illegal challenge against Korea’s goalkeeper.

The homeside remained the stronger side, but Andranik Teymourian (4′, 10′) and Reza Enayeti (17′) failed with promising efforts.

Hannover striker Vahid Hashemian could easily have scored a hattrick still in first half then, but first missed no less than five golden opportunities. While a great ball from Teymourian was intercepted shortly before reaching Hashemian by the goalkeeper (19′), the striker’s shot from tight angle after a good individual effort inside the area landed in the sidenet in minute 33. Three minutes later Iran’s number 9 created himself space with a nice trick but sent his shot from the edge of the box over the crossbar. Finally Hashemian twice headed Javad Kazemian’s crosses narrowly wide from close range in the 43rd and 45th minute.

The visitor’s only real scoring opportunity of the first half came after a doubtful freekick decision. Lee Chon-So curled the ball on goal but Hassan Roudbarian was equal to the shot. However, veteran defender Mahmoud Fekri, wearing the captain’s armband in his last international game, had positioned himself far behind the wall and therefore put three Korean strikers onside. One of them got to the rebound but luckily Fekri could make up for his mistake by clearing the effort off the goalline.

Team Melli was finally rewarded for their good display three minutes into second half when the often critisized Enayati was at the right place at the right time and headed in a great Teymourian-cross from close range.

Javad Nekounam almost doubled the lead six minutes afterwards but saw his header to an Ali Karimi corner go wide.

The guests then more actively participated in the game and created a couple of dangerous scenes inside Iran’s penalty area, however, a good direct freekick after a dive which was saved by Roudbarian remained the only shot on target by South Korea in second period.

Iran relied on counter attacks since taking the lead and was unlucky when substitute striker Rassoul Khatibi first brilliantly fooled two defenders before being brought down inside the box in the first minute of injury time but the overall good Bahraini referee refused to award a penalty.

However, just moments later a perfectly timed throughball by Nikbakht sent debutant Hossein Badamaki through on goal and the Persepolis offensive man kept his cool and made it 2-0 with a well placed shot.

In the dying seconds of the game first Lee Chon-So and short time later Khatibi failed to get the ball on target from close range.

Iran finished on top of Group B, having collected 14 points out of six matches, three more than the as well qualified Korean Republic.

Iran - South Korea 2-0 (0-0)

Asian Cup 2007 Qualifier, Group B, Azadi Stadium

Goals:
1-0 Enayati (48′; Assist by Teymourian)
2-0 Badamaki (91′; Nikbakht)

Iran’s lineup: Roudbarian - Nosrati, Fekri (C), Sadeghi - Kazemian (77′ Badamaki), Teymourian, Nekounam, Nikbakht - Karimi - Enayati (70′ Khatibi), Hashemian (89′ Shakouri)

Bookings: None - Jinkyu, Jungwoo

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Teams
Pts
 GD
1 Perspolis Tehran*
59
+21
2 Sepahan Esfahan **
58
+15
3 Saba Battery Tehran
52
+4
4 Abu Moslem Khorasan
50
0
5 Pas Hamedan
49
+8
6 Zob Ahan Esfahan
48
+7
7 Bargh Shiraz
47
-4
8 Esteghlal Ahvaz
46
+10
9 Paykan Tehran
46
-1
10 Mes Kerman
45
+2
11 Saipa Karaj
45
-2
12 Rah Ahan Tehran
44
+5
13 Esteghlal Tehran
43
0
14 Fajr Sepasi Shiraz
42
-4
15 Pegah Gilan
38
-9
16 Malavan Bandar Anzali
36
-9
17 Sanat Naft Abadan
35
-9
18 Shirin Faraz Kermanshah
21
-31

* Six points deducted
** Three points deducted