The Republic of Korea national football team has risen to the top of the group in the final qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by defeating Iran, the enemy for the first time in 11 years.
Our national team, led by coach Paulo Bento, defeated Iran 2-0 in the home match of Group A of the Asian final qualifier for Qatar World Cup held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham) scored the winning goal in extra time in the first half, and Kim Young-kwon (Ulsan) scored an extra goal in the 18th minute of the second half to lead the victory.
Our national team, which had already confirmed their advance to the World Cup finals for the 10th consecutive time, continued their unbeaten streak with 7 wins, 2 draws (23 points), and took the
lead in the group, beating Iran (22.
went up to
After a 1-0 victory in the 2011 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup quarterfinals, 7 matches (3 draws, 4 losses) against Iran also broke the 'winless chain' for the first time in 11 years.
Their record with Iran is 10 wins, 10 draws and 13 losses.
Son Heung-min, who also scored the opening goal in the final qualifying away match (1-1 draw), scored two consecutive goals against Iran.
Bento, who took office in August 2018, has led 42 A matches until today, recording 28 wins, 10 draws, and 4 losses, setting a new record for the most wins during a single tenure as the Korean national team manager.
At the Seoul World Cup Stadium where the Iranian match was held, 64,375 spectators gathered.
The national team will depart on the night of the next day (26th) and finish the Qatar World Cup qualifier schedule with the final match against the UAE in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 29th.
(Photo = Yonhap News)