Berliner Boersenzeitung - Iran into World Cup finals as Japan, South Korea move closer

EUR -
AED 4.291798
AFN 82.403416
ALL 98.01893
AMD 449.708044
ANG 2.091409
AOA 1071.63447
ARS 1388.913507
AUD 1.785806
AWG 2.106458
AZN 1.998929
BAM 1.95494
BBD 2.36435
BDT 143.207034
BGN 1.954746
BHD 0.440817
BIF 3487.721744
BMD 1.168631
BND 1.492425
BOB 8.091442
BRL 6.403165
BSD 1.17098
BTN 100.307184
BWP 15.551229
BYN 3.832099
BYR 22905.171003
BZD 2.352156
CAD 1.594702
CDF 3362.151316
CHF 0.936888
CLF 0.028367
CLP 1088.56875
CNY 8.376573
CNH 8.378227
COP 4720.10131
CRC 591.342527
CUC 1.168631
CUP 30.968726
CVE 110.217954
CZK 24.766451
DJF 208.517426
DKK 7.461594
DOP 69.579705
DZD 151.736191
EGP 58.312831
ERN 17.529468
ETB 158.057634
FJD 2.618026
FKP 0.857831
GBP 0.851552
GEL 3.178918
GGP 0.857831
GHS 12.119827
GIP 0.857831
GMD 83.554274
GNF 10145.582575
GTQ 9.006156
GYD 244.982286
HKD 9.173398
HNL 30.589681
HRK 7.532529
HTG 153.450561
HUF 399.860592
IDR 18945.848586
ILS 3.967111
IMP 0.857831
INR 99.977095
IQD 1533.92556
IRR 49228.587957
ISK 142.011951
JEP 0.857831
JMD 187.598319
JOD 0.82855
JPY 168.839204
KES 151.343457
KGS 102.010751
KHR 4693.875938
KMF 491.087999
KPW 1051.800605
KRW 1585.317979
KWD 0.357379
KYD 0.975871
KZT 607.292984
LAK 25254.004312
LBP 104919.617605
LKR 351.205581
LRD 234.200032
LSL 20.700587
LTL 3.450664
LVL 0.706893
LYD 6.342184
MAD 10.59894
MDL 19.818371
MGA 5147.758647
MKD 61.519008
MMK 2453.059332
MNT 4188.633694
MOP 9.467937
MRU 46.451775
MUR 52.774952
MVR 18.002757
MWK 2030.515906
MXN 22.049844
MYR 4.941554
MZN 74.745937
NAD 20.700498
NGN 1808.924277
NIO 43.091238
NOK 11.789618
NPR 160.490122
NZD 1.927715
OMR 0.449344
PAB 1.170985
PEN 4.18476
PGK 4.826898
PHP 66.069145
PKR 332.089307
PLN 4.243537
PYG 9348.849478
QAR 4.281472
RON 5.072677
RSD 117.218397
RUB 92.029736
RWF 1690.863792
SAR 4.382973
SBD 9.75496
SCR 17.149759
SDG 701.761664
SEK 11.135121
SGD 1.490437
SHP 0.918361
SLE 26.295235
SLL 24505.615677
SOS 669.208624
SRD 43.947529
STD 24188.305837
SVC 10.246495
SYP 15194.250557
SZL 20.683994
THB 38.075756
TJS 11.581057
TMT 4.101895
TND 3.448028
TOP 2.737047
TRY 46.610504
TTD 7.956502
TWD 33.680537
TZS 3096.389989
UAH 48.707593
UGX 4207.150191
USD 1.168631
UYU 47.0899
UZS 14674.547862
VES 124.083575
VND 30501.273631
VUV 140.640103
WST 3.214893
XAF 655.671518
XAG 0.031956
XAU 0.000354
XCD 3.158284
XDR 0.815445
XOF 655.66591
XPF 119.331742
YER 283.100471
ZAR 20.862357
ZMK 10519.088806
ZMW 27.605744
ZWL 376.298761
  • CMSC

    0.0900

    22.314

    +0.4%

  • CMSD

    0.0250

    22.285

    +0.11%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    69.04

    0%

  • SCS

    0.0400

    10.74

    +0.37%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    53

    +0.06%

  • RIO

    -0.1400

    59.33

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.1300

    41.45

    +0.31%

  • NGG

    0.2700

    71.48

    +0.38%

  • BP

    0.1750

    30.4

    +0.58%

  • BTI

    0.7150

    48.215

    +1.48%

  • BCC

    0.7900

    91.02

    +0.87%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    9.85

    +0.1%

  • BCE

    -0.0600

    22.445

    -0.27%

  • RYCEF

    0.1000

    12

    +0.83%

  • AZN

    -0.1200

    73.71

    -0.16%

Iran into World Cup finals as Japan, South Korea move closer

Iran into World Cup finals as Japan, South Korea move closer

Iran became the first team from Asia to qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals on Thursday with a 1-0 victory over Iraq as Japan and South Korea moved a step closer to Qatar.

Text size:

Porto forward Medhi Taremi scored the winner after 48 minutes in Tehran to send his country through to a World Cup finals for the sixth time, and third in a row.

Iran consolidated top spot in Group A with 19 points from seven games, two points ahead of South Korea who are on the brink of qualifying after a 1-0 win over Lebanon in Sidon.

The United Arab Emirates are in third position, eight points behind the Koreans -- who are missing injured Spurs star Son Heung-min -- after a 2-0 win over Syria.

In Group B, Japan took a step closer to Doha with a 2-0 win over a toothless China, and are sitting second, two points behind leaders Saudi Arabia.

Australia are third, a further point behind Japan, to stay in the hunt an automatic berth with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Vietnam in Melbourne.

Only the top two are guaranteed a place at the World Cup that kicks off in Qatar in November.

There were celebrations and fireworks in Tehran after the final whistle with loud cheers from spectators as women were allowed entry to an Iran football match for the first time since October 2019.

"I am very happy. This is the first time I have attended a match at Azadi Stadium," said a 26-year-old civil engineer who gave her name only as Mahya. She carried the national green, white and red flag, and covered her head with a grey scarf.

World football's governing body FIFA ordered Iran in September 2019 to allow women access to stadiums without restriction and in numbers determined by demand for tickets.

Iran extended their impressive unbeaten run under Croatian head coach Dragan Skocic with 11 wins and one draw, with their second win over Iraq on the road to Qatar.

The Iraqis struggled for momentum and failed to break down the famed Iranian defence, with the hosts clearly the dominant side on front of their home fans.

Taremi, who only joined his Covid-hit team in Tehran on Thursday, picked up an Alireza Jahanbaksh assist after the break sending in a right-footed shot from inside the box.

In Saitama, Yuya Osako buried a first-half penalty to put four-time Asian champions Japan in control before Junya Ito doubled their lead after the break.

Japan were missing half their regular defence against China, with captain Maya Yoshida and Arsenal full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu both missing through injury.

But the home side took a 13th-minute lead after China defender Wang Shenchao slid in to block Ito's cross but hit the ball with his arm.

Osako made no mistake from the spot and the hosts pressed home their advantage in the 61st minute when Ito rose to head home substitute Yuta Nakayama's cross.

China, who were playing their first game under new manager Li Xiaopeng, saw their slim hopes of reaching the World Cup all but ended.

"The players gave their all but the first goal came at a bad time for us and it threw us out of our rhythm," said Li, whose side failed to have a shot on target.

"It had a really big impact."

Japan's fourth win in a row kept the pressure on Saudi Arabia, who they host at the same stadium next Tuesday.

"Looking ahead to the Saudi game, tonight's match has helped strengthen our understanding as a team and that's a big plus for us," said Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu.

"But the Saudi game will have a different intensity and tension from tonight, and we have to be ready to play at a high level."

Australia are also in the chase.

In Melbourne, Jamie McLaren opened the scoring in the 30th minute before Tom Rogic notched a second in first-half injury time.

Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree added two more after the break to wrap up the win for the home side, whose manager Graham Arnold was absent after testing positive for Covid-19.

(T.Burkhard--BBZ)