Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuwait City: Iran finally scored goals as they edged pointless Yemen 2-1 in their last match of Group B in the WAFF Championship 2012.
The AFC Asian Cup Group B contenders had a dismal campaign so far with both of their previous matches in the competition finishing on goalless stalemate but on Saturday Omid Nazari put them ahead in the 41st minute.
Yemen midfielder Essam Al Worafi needed just five minutes to bring the match at equal term scoring a goal in the first-half stoppage time. However, Yaghoub Karimi grabbed the winner eight minutes into the second half to seal all three points for Iran.
With Bahrain topping the group, Iran are all but out of the competition as the best second-placed finisher of the three groups progress into the semi-final. Host Kuwait, having secured six points from three matches, are favourite to progress. Iran only mustered five points – two behind leader Bahrain.
Iran, who are also involved in the final round of the FIFA World Cup 2014 Asian qualifiers, will take on Lebanon on February at home in Group B which also include Thailand and Kuwait.
Likewise, Yemen are in Group D alongside with Qatar, Bahrain and Malaysia.