Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Doha: Iran stayed top of Group C in the third phase of Asian qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup after drawing 1-1 with Qatar on Tuesday to lead Bahrain on goal difference with two rounds of matches played.
Defender Hadi Aghil, a 2007 AFC Champions League runner-up with Sepahan prior to leaving the Esfahan giants to join Qatar side Al Arabi, gave Iran the lead one minute into the second half after neither side could break the deadlock in the opening period.
But Team Melli's lead was short lived as Umm Salal forward Mohamed El Sayed drew the home level with his second international goal following his strike against Kuwait in the Qatar-hosted 2011 AFC Asian Cup back in January.
El Sayed's goal completed the scoring as Qatar recorded their second successive Group C draw after last Thursday goalless stalemate with Bahrain, who now share four points with Iran following their impressive 2-0 victory over Indonesia in Jakarta earlier on Tuesday.
Qatar will be seeking their first win under recently-appointed head coach Sebastiao Lazaroni when the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts take on Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno on October 11 hoping to repeat the success of their Gulf neighbours while the same day sees Bahrain and Iran battle for pole position in Tehran.
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(Photo by AFP)