November 14, 2024
Today saw the resumption of the 2026 Asian World Cup qualifiers, with an intriguing match between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea aka North Korea, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Dubbed in some quarters as an axis of evil clash, or the International Pariah derby, Fatbear felt compelled to report on the encounter !
North Korea Update
These diaries covered an earlier qualifier against Qatar, which was played in appalling conditions and required a 20 minute break to allow for a break in the heavy rain and for surface water to be cleared. Despite an early red card to North Korea, a highly entertaining game finished in a 2-2 draw.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/09/north-korea-2-2-qatar-att-100-est-2026.html
North Korea followed up this result with a disappointing 0-1 defeat in Kyrgyzstan to slip to bottom place in their group.
Their home qualifiers are being played in Vientiane in Laos as a punishment for the North Korean regime refusing to allow the Japanese side into the country for a Round Two qualifier.
Football In Iran
The Iran Pro League was formed in 1971 and became the Pro Gulf League in 2001/02. The league currently consists of 16 sides, with the champions and the Hazfi cup winners qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite group stages, with the runners-up entering the AFC Champions League Elite play-off round. The side finishing in fourth earns a place in the AFC Champions League Two group stages, whilst the bottom two are relegated to the second tier Azadegan League
The Iranian league has been dominated by the two Tehran giants, with Persepolis having won 16 all-time titles and Esteghlal winning 9 times. Next come Sepahan, who play in the city of Isfahan, with 5 titles.
The current champions are Persepolis, and the last time one of the big two didn’t win the title was in 2015/16, when Esteghlal Khuzestan in the city in Ahvaz unexpectedly won the league.
The 2024/25 season has reached Round 10, with Sepahan the current leaders, one point ahead of Persepolis, who have a game in hand. Esteghlal are in a lowly 10th place, 10 points off the lead.
Several players with experience of playing in England are currently plying their trade in the Pro Gulf League.
DR Congo winger Gael Kakuta ( 29 caps ) is with Esteghlal, having previously played for Chelsea, Fulham and Bolton Wanderers. Also at Esteghlal is ex-Sunderland Gabon midfielder Didier Ndong ( 48 caps ) whilst Uzbek playmaker Jaloliddin Masharipov ( 64 caps ), who has featured in these diaries a number of times, is also with Esteghlal.
The Persepolis squad includes Angolan striker Lucas Joao ( 4 caps ), who has played for Sheffield Wednesday, Blackburn Rovers and Reading, whilst Sepahan have French midfielder Steven Nzonzi ( 20 caps ), who played for Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Roma, Burkina Faso midfieler Bryan Dabo ( 19 caps ), who had a short spell with Blackburn Rovers, and ex-Fulham striker Aboubakar Kamara, who won 22 caps for Mauritania.
Iran National Team
The national team are currently 19th in FIFA world rankings and have qualified for the World Cup on six occasions ( in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2015, 2018 and 2022 ), although they are yet to get out of the group stages.
In 1978 they drew 1-1 with Scotland, in 1998 they beat the Great Satan aka USA 2-1 in a match that was played in a remarkable good spirit, and in 2018 they beat Morocco 1-0 and drew with Portugal 1-1.
They began the 2022 finals with a 2-6 hammering at the hands of England but recovered to beat Wales 2-0, thanks to two goals in added on time after a red card to Welsh keeper Wayne Hennessey in the 86th minute. However, they were eliminated after their final group game, when the USA obtained revenge for the 1998 defeat with a 1-0 win.
Iran have a proud record in the AFC Asian Cup, with consecutive titles in 1968, 1972 and 1976. In 15 editions of the competition since 1968 they have qualified every time and only once failed to get out the group stages ( in 1992 ).
In the 2023 edition in Qatar they won all three of their group matches, beating Palestine 4-1, Hong Kong 1-0 and United Arab Emirates 2-1. In the Round of 16 they needed penalties to eliminate Syria after a 1-1 draw but then convincingly beat a lacklustre Japan side 2-1 in the quarter finals. In the semi-final they went down to the host nation Qatar after a 2-3 defeat.
Iran cruised through the Second Round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with four wins, home and away against Hong Kong and Turkmenistan, and two draws with Uzbekistan. They went into today’s 3rd round group game with three wins ( Kyrgyzstan H 1-0, UAE A 1-0 and Qatar A 4-1 ) and another draw with Uzbekistan, to top the group together with Uzbekistan.
The undoubted star of the Iranian side is forward Mehdi Taremi ( 51 goals in 89 caps ) who is now with Inter Milan having previously played for FC Porto. Winger Alireza Jahanbaksh ( 88 caps ) had three seasons at Brighton and Hove Albion, where despite appearing 60 times and winning a goal of the month competition with a bicycle kick against Chelsea, failed to establish himself as a regular under Chris Hughton and Graham Potter, and is now with Dutch side Heerenveen after a spell with Feyenoord.
Striker Sardar Azmoun ( 55 goals in 89 caps ) has played for Roma, Bayer Leverkusen and three sides in Russia but is now playing in the UAE for Shabab Al Ahli, as is midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi ( 72 caps ), who has Reading and Eupen on his CV.
Keeper Alireza Beiranvand ( 75 caps ) has played for Royal Antwerp and Boavista but is now back home with Tractor, and Persepolis defender Mihad Mohammedi ( 65 caps ) has played for AEK Athens and Gent. Winger Mohammad Mohebi ( 26 caps ) plays in Russia for Rostov.
Iran’s starting XI tonight contained three players who play in the UAE, two each for local sides Sepahan and Tractor, and one from Persepolis, Foolad, Rostov and Inter Milan
Matchday Information
The weather in Vientiane at the 19.00 local time tick-off ( noon UK ) was dry and 28 degrees.
The match was shown live on AFC Asian Cup YouTube channel with a commentary in English. The game was also shown live on onefootball.com and on Bet365.com, who made Iran 19/50 favourites, with North Korea at 8/1 and the draw at 7/2. Probably an indication of this being a match between 111th and 19th in the FIFA rankings.
A small core of North Korea supporters were in the main stand, presumably loyal and trusted party members allowed to travel outside of the country. No Iranians supporters seemed to have made the 5,400km journey to Vientiane.
North Korea were in all red, whilst Iran were in all white
The referee and his assistants were from Tajikistan.
Match Report
The game had barely started when the first yellow card of the game was shown, with North Korea forward Ri Jo-guk sliding into Shojae Khalilzadeh for a bad foul.
North Korea had the first shot of the match when ex Cagliari and Perugia forward Han Kwang-song ran at towards the Iran area, but his 25 yard shot lacked power, and was easily saved by Beiranvand. However, the visitors started to take control after this, and in the 6th minute Taremi failed to make a decent contact to a cross from the right by Mohammad Karimi and keeper Kang Ju-Hyok dived to make what was in the end an easy save. It was a good chance though.
Jang Kuk-choi was then forced to make a sliding tackle to take the ball away from Taremi, who ended up stamping on the Korean’s ankle in his follow through. It may have been accidental, and no card was shown. A minute later Taremi dramatically went to ground when trying to control a throw in. There may have been some minimal contact from Tam Kye, but the referee allowed play to continue.
Taremi was involved in all the early action, and a 30-yard shot took a deflection, but Kang dived to save and gathered at the second attempt. The Inter forward was then put in space inside the North Korean area but dwelt too long on the ball, and his eventual shot was blocked, and another good chance had gone.
Iran continued to look dangerous and a ball in from the right wing caused confusion as keeper Kang and Jang left the ball for each other after both initially going for it, but the loose ball ran away from Mehdi Ghayedi.
With 14 minutes played, Taremi showed good technique to shoot powerfully from a bouncing ball on the edge of the area, but Kang was equal to the challenge and made a superb one handed save. Iran were able to rework possession and Mohammadi met the cross with a header from 8 yards, but it was at Kang, who made the catch.
After being starved of possession, North Korea then appeared to have weathered the storm and enjoyed a brief spell with the ball, but it was short-lived, and Iran were soon pressing again. Taremi and Azmoun combined nicely, but the flick into the area was read by Kim Pom-hyok, who headed the ball back to his keeper. Taremi then made a strong run and played a cute pass through the North Korea backline, but Azmoun failed to anticipate, and the ball rolled away for a goal-kick.
The Iranian pressure eventually told and another astute pass from Taremi put Ghayedi clear to sweep past the keeper and in off the left-hand post from just inside the penalty area. 0-1 after 28 minutes.
Iran nearly doubled their lead two minutes later but although Ghayedi flicked the ball over the advancing keeper Kim Yu-song was back to clear from close to the goal line.
North Korea responded with another run from Han and this time his 25-yard shot stung the hands off Beiranvand, who blocked with raised fists.
Normal service was soon resume though, and consecutive scrambles occurred inside the North Korean area but despite some unconvincing defending, the ball was finally cleared.
At the other end Choe Ok-choi got into a good position on the right but after cutting back onto his left foot could only send his shot horribly high and wide.
Mohebi won the first corner of the game in the 38th minute but the header from Khakilzadeh was poor and only succeeded in clearing the ball away from the goal.
Taremi was looking in a different class to everyone else on the pitch and another clever pass but Mohebi clear to finish into the roof of the net from 10 yards. 0-2 with 40 minutes played.
Han was looking the most likely threat for “the home” side but after twisting past Mohammedi, the ball unfortunately bounced off his leg for a goal kick.
Iran were not yet finished, and Taremi played a square pass for Mohebi to send a thunderbolt into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Taremi now had three assists, and it was 0-3 after 45 minutes.
At the half-time interval, Iran were in total control and could easily have had a much greater lead. A win was looking like a formality, with North Korea having to live on meagre rations.
Some light drizzle appeared to be falling as the second half commenced. The North Korean coach must have given his side a rocket during the half-time break as his side started the second period with renewed energy. Almost immediately Han’s shot hit an arm but although there was a VAR check, no penalty was awarded.
Iran broke as Taremi looked to run away from Kim Pom-hyok he appeared to be hauled to the floor, but the referee waved play on.
A turning point in the match occurred in the 50th minute. Choe Ju-song won a header near the half-way which gave Ri the chance to run clear, but Khakilzadeh pulled him to the floor just out side the Iranian area. The referee had little choice other than to show a red card to the Iranian centre-back.
Although Kang II’s free kick was feeble and sailed harmlessly wide, it was now North Korea’s turn to look dangerous. Han again showed good skill and then played a reverse pass to send Choe Ju-song to the left byline, but the pull back was put out for a corner.
The corner was played short, and Kim Pom-hyok played a nice back-heel for Kang II to run into space inside the left-hand side of the area. Taremi stuck out a leg to block the cross but could only deflect the ball over his keeper and a defender on the line and into the top of the net. Taremi was finally on the scoresheet but unfortunately for him at the wrong end. It was now 1-3 after 56 minutes and potentially game on !
North Korea’s tails were up and 10-man Iran conceded another corner. Another short corner routine saw Kang II cross towards the far post where Jang headed back across goal, and despite the best efforts of Azmoun and Nemati, Y Kim bundled the ball over the line from close range. Incredibly the score was now 2-3 with 59 minutes on the clock.
Iran were rocking but were unexpectedly given a lifeline in the 62nd minute. Taremi appeared to make a meal of diving to the floor inside the penalty area as there had clearly been no contact with Jang as he went past the defender. However, VAR reviewed the incident and spotted there had been a slight contact from Kye prior to Taremi diving past Jang. Surprisingly, VAR instructed the referee to look at the pitch-side monitor and incredibly the referee awarded a penalty to Iran. It was far from a clear and obvious error and softer than a cashmere sweater……..
Taremi got up and took the penalty but struck it poorly down the middle of the goal, only to see it saved by the feet of the diving Kang and a golden chance to put the game to bed had been squandered.
North Korea keeper Kang then fumbled a long throw-in and after chasing the ball outside of his area, failed to clear, but Iran lost possession, and North Korea suddenly had a 5 on 3 break only to waste the opportunity with a poor pass.
Ri then did excellently on the left-hand side of the Iran area, but Chung-song couldn’t control his ball across the goal.
As a sign of the pressure Iran were under, Yousefi was shown a yellow card after taking an age to take a throw-in. North Korea launched another flowing move down the right, which saw the ball crossed beyond the far post where Pak Kwang-hun played the ball back across the goalmouth, but Han sliding in near the penalty spot saw the ball bounce over him.
Iran were now content to kept everyone behind the ball and invited North Korea to attack. In the 75th minute a cute pass down the right-hand channel put Chung-song in space and his pull back found Ri, but his effort crashed back from the crossbar with Beiranvand beaten. Two minutes later another dangerous ball in from the right bounced off Ri and rolled to the keeper.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, a good run from Pak led to a pass to Ri, but the forward snatched at the chance and the shot flew over the bar. Pak then shot wide after Chung-song had got to be byline and sent an inviting pull-back.
Just when it seemed as if North Korea must grab an equaliser they ran out of steam. Despite nine added minutes to be played, they created very little in the closing stages, with only some half-hearted appeals for a handball after Ri Un-choi had a shot blocked.
Iran utilised the usual game management to wind down the clock, with extended imaginary injuries taking far too long to be treated, and one such three-minute hold up was not added to the additional time.
At the final whistle Iran would have been relieved to have escaped with the three points from a proverbial game of two halves. As a result, despite still having 5 qualifiers still to play, they look virtually assured of at least a play-off place and look to be a good bet for an automatic qualification place. North Korea now face a huge uphill battle to get into the play-offs.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKAKXocEckQ
North Korea : JH Kang – OC Choe, Jang, YS Kim ( Pak ), P. Kim – Chung-song, Kye ( UC Ri ), K. Kang II, JS Choe – Han ( IG Jong ), J Ri ( KS Jong )
Iran : Beiranvand – Yousefi, Khakilzadeh, Nemati, Mohammadi – Mohebi ( Noorafkan ), Karimi ( Jahanbaksh ), Taremi ( Moghanlou ), Ezatolahi, Ghayedi ( Kanaanizadegan )- Azmoun ( Ghorbani )
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