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AFC - IRAN booked their berth in the Finals of Asian Cup by defeating Lebanon 3-0 in Beirut last night (Wednesday).

A first half penalty by Ali Daei followed by two headed goals from central defender Yahya Golmohammadi after 61 minutes and substitute Vahedi Nikbakht with 10 minutes to go gave Iran all three points and eliminated Lebanon from the competition.

Iran, with 12 points, leads Group D on goal difference from Jordan, who clinched their place in the final with a 3-0 win over DPR Korea on Tuesday night. Both the teams have one game to play.

At a near deserte Beirut Municipal Stadium, Lebanon held their Iranian counterparts for 37 minutes before the pressure finaly paid off, the referee awarding a penalty for a dubious handball against Krikor Alozian. Ali Daei duly stepped up to score past Ziad Samad to give his side the lead.

After the break, it was one-way traffic as Lebanon, hopelessly outclassed, were powerless to stop the Iranians from extending their lead, defender Yahya Golmohammedi heading home a free-kick from Mehdi Mahdavikia on 61 minutes.

Substitute Vahid Nikbakht increased the tally in the 80th, Mahdivikia again providing the inch-perfect cross for his teammate.

To cap a miserable night for the home side,Lebanon playmaker Abbas Ali Atwi was given the marching orders late on for a second yellow card.

"Iran are one of the best teams in Asia," said new Lebanon coach Mohammed Quweid. "We tried to stop them from playing freely but they simply outplayed us. The Iranians were physically and mentally better than us and they deserved to win."

Both teams will meet again on November 28 in Tehran to complete the qualifying campaign.

Lebanon: Ziad Samad, Khaled Hamiyeh, Yussof Mohammed (Usama Haidar), Marcelio Silva, Mohammed Halawi, Badawi Farah, Abbas Ahmed Atwi (Ali Naserdeen), Krikor Alozian (Uddai Attar), Yihya Hashem, Abbas Ali Atwi, Mohammed Kassas.

Iran: Ibrahim Mirzapour, Yahya Golmohammadi, Rahman Rezaei, Javad Nekounam, Hamed Kavianpour, Moharam Navidkia (Vahid Nikbakht), Husein Kaabi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Mohamad Nosrati, Ali Daei, Ali Karimi (Iman Mobali).

Group D results so far:
DPR Korea 0 Lebanon 1
Iran 4 Jordan 1
Jordan 3 Iran 2
Jordan 1 Lebanon 0
DPR Korea 1 Iran 3
Lebanon 1 DPR Korea 1
Lebanon 0 Jordan 2
Jordan 3 DPR Korea 0
Lebanon 0 Iran 3

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