Mission accomplished for Renard, Park happy with improvement

The victory, courtesy of Saleh Al Shehri’s looping header on the half hour, saw the West Asians extend their lead at the top of the standings after Australia, who were second going into Tuesday’s games, dropped points in a draw with China PR as Japan jumped into the second automatic qualification place after defeating Oman.

Five wins from six games, and their unbeaten record still firmly intact, now leaves Renard’s team on course to reach their sixth FIFA World Cup. They will go into 2022 in pole position in Group B, and a home victory over Oman in late January would edge them ever closer to the global showpiece.

The win came courtesy of a late Junya Ito goal and was Japan’s third in a row in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022. Coupled with Australia’s 1-1 draw with China PR in Sharjah, the result sees Moriyasu’s team move into the second place in Group B behind leaders Saudi Arabia with four games remaining.

The first two finishers in the continent’s two preliminary groups will progress to next year’s Finals while the third-placed team will advance into a series of playoffs for a possible fifth Asian berth at the FIFA World Cup.

Team Melli needed just over half an hour to open the scoring at King Abdullah II Stadium after Vahid Amiri supplied a fine overhead pass for Sardar Azmoun to give IR Iran the lead. Ehsan Hajsafi doubled the advantage from the spot just before the break and Ali Gholizadeh sealed the victory late on with an impressive solo goal.

Head coach Dragan Skokic’s men extended their unbeaten run in the final stage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers to six games, reaching point 16 at the summit of the group despite the absence of their coach who was suspended for a previous dismissal, with Tot taking duty in his place on the night.