Iran 1 Rep. of Ireland 0 (Ireland win 2-1 on aggregate)The Republic of Ireland are through to the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea next Summer despite losing 1-0 to Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran this afternoon.
Mick McCarthy's team go through to the finals on the back of their fine 2-0 first leg win in Dublin last Saturday.The Iranians, who scored in the very last minute, were far more impressive than in Dublin, and as early as the 10th minute pushed on in search of goals only for striker Ali Daei to find the side-netting with a poor shot.Mark Kinsella, replacement for the injured Roy Keane, had a free header from the edge of the box when Gary Breen's knock-back found him, but the Charlton midfielder could not find the power to trouble Iranian keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour.Half-an-hour had elapsed before Iran really threatened. Mehdi Mahdavikia crossed from deep on the right, and captain Ali Daei outjumped Steve Finnan to win a powerful header which was not far off target.The Irish defence was tested in the 33rd minute when Shay Given and his central defenders dithered briefly, and Ali Karimi nipped in with a header which dropped a inch wide of the post.Given was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he dropped a high ball and then appeared to impede Karimi as he scrambled to regain possession, but referee William Mattus Vega of Costa Rica saw no foul.Having reached the break on a scoreline of 0-0, Ireland began the second half in the same fashion: taking no risks, closing down their opponents, and relying on the darting runs of Robbie Keane and David Connolly up front to create chances.But there was another fright for McCarthy's side seven minutes into the second half when Karimi's astute ball across the edge of the box set up Karim Bagheri, only for the ex-Charlton player to slice wide.In the Republic's next attack, Connolly spurned a chance to put the contest beyond doubt after the tireless Jason McAteer put him through, the striker hitting the side-netting.Given, the hero in Dublin with two superb saves, matched his brilliance with a diving stop to parry Bagheri's excellent low strike, and then reacted to sweep the loose ball away from the lurking Karimi.The Iranians kept pressurising and Given did well to keep out Mehrdad Minavand's fiercely-struck volley from the left.With 15 minutes remaining, and with the Republic pinned back almost into their own penalty area, McCarthy attempted to ease the pressure by replacing Keane with Clinton Morrison.Still the home side kept going, and Mahdavikia's burst in the box should have produced a goal but his cutback only found Gary Breen.Morrison won a free-kick with eight minutes remaining in range but Connolly fired it over the bar.In injury-time, Yahya Golmohammadi ensured a last few nervous seconds after powering a header into the net from a free-kick, but a minute later and Irish celebrations were underway.
PA / AFP