Iran defeated Kuwait 3-2 in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 football qualifier. In the match held in Iran’s Karaj city on Monday, Yaghoub Karimi put the host team ahead after two minutes before Waleed Ali Jumaha scored for the visiting team in the 18th minute, reports Xinhua.
Iran’s effort paid off in the 61st when Payam Sadeghian found the back of the net. With one minute left, unmarked Kuwait striker Fahad Al Rashidi equalised the match.
The Iranian striker Karim Ansarifard headed the ball past Kuwait goalkeeper in injury time. “I am satisfied with the win and I dedicate this victory to all Iranian fans. We defeated Kuwait with our young players and the match was a good opportunity for them to prove themselves,” Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said in the post-match news conference.
Iran stayed seven points ahead of Kuwait in Group B with 16. Lebanon is third with five points and Thailand remains at bottom of the table without a point.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, China and Uzbekistan have all advanced to the finals via the qualifiers to leave just three places remaining.
Defending champions Japan, hosts Australia, South Korea and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners North Korea had already secured their passage prior to the start of the qualifiers, while the winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will complete the 16-team line-up.
