Three in a row for Iran

AFC – Iran ended their Group Five campaign undefeated after they downed Kuwait 2-0 at Azadi Stadium on Sunday to register their third successive qualification victory.

Javad Nekounam and Gholamreza Rezaei were both on target to ensure Iran, who had already booked their place in the final phase of qualifying, finished top of the table.

Kuwait, on the other hand, ended up bottom of the standings having conceded 12 goals in six matches.

The game’s first chance fell to Rezaei when he sprung the Kuwaiti offside trap and raced clear but keeper Nawaf Al Khaldi blocked his shot.

Seyed Jalal Hosseini volled over the bar from inside the box in the 10th minute while Jarrah Al Ataiqi tested keeper Seyed Mahdi Rahmati at the other end with a powerful effort one minute later.

However, Iran’s early pressure paid dividends after 16 minutes when Nekounam picked the ball up 40 yards from goal before unleashing a long-range screamer that found the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Kuwait tried to find an immediate riposte and Mesaed Nada saw his free-kick saved by Rahmati after 19 minutes.

Iran continued to dominate possession but could not turn their superiority into further goals before Kuwait were dealt a blow at the end of the first-half when prolific striker Ahmed Ajab departed with an injury.

Kuwait improved after the break and had a great chance to level the game in the 54th minute but Khaled Khalaf fired wide when well placed before Saleh Al Shaikh fired over the bar three minutes later.

The Iranians then saw an appeal for a penalty after 58 minutes turned down when Hossein Kaebi was fouled inside the area and the midfielder was cautioned for his trouble.

Iran thought they had doubled their lead ten minutes from time when Rezaei found the back of the net from inside the box but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Mesaed Nada then saw a long-range free-kick turned behind for a corner by Rahmati before Iran sealed the points in the third minute of stoppage time as Rezaei eventually got on the score sheet with a smart finish.