Iran and Japan close in on 2006 World Cup spot
Iran and Japan close in on 2006 World Cup spot
Alastair Himmer, Reuters/Tokyo
Iran eased to a 1-0 home victory over North Korea on Friday to close in on its third appearance in the World Cup finals.
Defender Rahman Rezaei's point-blank header in first-half injury time in Tehran gave Iran 10 points from four matches in the final round of Asian 2006 qualifiers.
Japan moved to within a point of Iran in Group B by beating Bahrain by the same score in steamy Manama.
Iran reached the 1978 and 1998 World Cup finals and the Gulf side has looked the strongest team in qualifying for next year's tournament in Germany.
"Tactically we were very mature but there is no reason to celebrate yet," said Iran's Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic. "We did the job we needed to and the players were terrific."
North Korea's hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1966 have now all but vanished following four straight defeats.
Coach Yun Jong-su was sent off in the 82nd minute for arguing with the match officials to add to the misery.
"We are still optimistic we have an outside chance," said Yun. "We have two games left and we intend to take them both very seriously."
Japan remained on course for its third World Cup finals appearance after a well-taken goal from Mitsuo Ogasawara gave the visitors all three points against dangerous Bahrain.
The midfielder settled Japanese nerves when he swept in a right-foot shot from the edge of the box in the 34th minute after a clever touch from Shunsuke Nakamura.
However, Japan's joy was tempered when playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata picked up a yellow card that rules him out of Wednesday's clash with North Korea in Bangkok.
The top two teams from each group advance automatically to the 2006 World Cup, with a possible fifth Asian berth available via a playoff with a team from CONCACAF.
Saudi Arabia climbed above South Korea to go top of Group A after overpowering nine-man Kuwait 3-0 in a tempestuous match in Riyadh.
Striker Mohammed Al Shalhoob scored twice to secure the points for Saudi Arabia, who improved to eight points from four games, one more than South Korea.
Gulf rival Kuwait, which had two players sent off in the second half, remains third on four points.
Teenage striker Park Chu-Young snatched a stoppage-time equalizer to spare South Korea's blushes and earn the visitors a 1-1 draw in Uzbekistan.