Tehran: Iran advanced to the third round of qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Group D winners after Sardar Azmoun’s first-half double saw Team Melli defeat Oman 2-0 as the curtain came down on the Preliminary Round 2 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifiers on Tuesday.
Iran went into the first-versus-second meeting at the Azadi Stadium boasting a vasty superior goal difference over Oman and any remote hopes that the Gulf Sultanate had harboured of taking top spot in Group D all but ended by the 23rd minute after Azmoun (pictured) had put the hosts 2-0 up.
The former Sepahan striker, who currently plays his club football in the Russian Premier League with Rostov, where he is on loan from Rubi Khazin, opened the scoring in the 16th minute with his sixth of the qualifiers before taking his individual tally to seven with Iran’s second seven minutes later.
Neither side could add to Azmoun’s brace in the remainder of the match as undefeated Iran finished top of Group D with 20 points, while Oman finished six points further back in second place.
Eight group winners will advance to the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, as well as straight to the 2019 Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates, along with the four best runners-up.
The other four runners-up will progress to the third round of qualifying for the Asian Cup, along with all the third-placed teams and the four best fourth-placed teams.
The remaining sides, which will include Bangladesh, will have to negotiate past two rounds of playoffs for one of the final eight spots in the Asian Cup third qualifying round.
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