Iran blow hole in China’s World Cup bid
Marcello Lippi’s team lose to hosts 1-0 and sit second from bottom of group A with only three games to go after latest setback
Mehdi Taremi’s second-half strike condemned China to a 1-0 defeat by Iran on Tuesday in a major blow to their hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
Marcello Lippi’s team raised Chinese hopes by upsetting South Korea last week, but they were unable to overturn Iran’s flawless home record in group A.
While Iran, Asia’s top-ranked team, maintain their four-point cushion at the top of the group, China are second from bottom with only three games to go.
A tepid first half came alive near the break when Taremi’s miskick let China off the hook and Zeng Cheng saved well from both Milad Mohammadi and Masoud Shojaei, who then blazed a bicycle kick over the bar.
After keeping Iran at bay in the first half, China will be cursing themselves for the way they conceded immediately after the resumption, when a howler of a defensive header was directed into the middle of the penalty area.
