Iran began its series against Maldives at home in Tehran. Any nerves felt by the home side were quickly squashed by a fourth-minute goal from Karim Ansari Fard. Though Iran were unable to further their advantage in the first period, the second period proved more fruitful.Ansari Fard provided the second at the hour mark, leading the three-goal second half onslaught on the Maldives' goal. The 4-0 result all but eliminates Maldives, who do have the honors of hosting the second leg in Male in five days' time.
Oman were heavy favorites against a Myanmar team that escaped its first round with a 2-1 series win over Mongolia. Oman did not put the series out of reach with its first leg result, however. The fans in Muscat left happy yet unsatisfied with the result.
One goal midway through the first half gave Oman the 1-0 lead at halftime. Myanmar refused to succumb to Oman, and only a goal ten minutes from time gave Oman an important 2-0 win and a two-goal advantage in the series. Oman will be wary that Myanmar have already overcome a shutout loss in a first leg to win a series once during this qualifying cycle; the fans in Yangon certainly will not let Myanmar forget that they have done the task before. The scene next Thursday promises to be exciting.
In a clash of Arab teams, Iraq hosted Yemen, a special occasion because it had been a while since Iraq got to play their home qualifiers on home soil. The scene for this encounter was Arbil, and the crowd of 20,000 strong were not disappointed. Iraq, quarterfinalists at this year's AFC Asian Cup, found the net within ten minutes of the opening whistle and held tough into the half with a 1-0 lead. A goal midway through the second period provided the final blow in a tough 2-0 win.
The return match will not be played in Yemen but instead in the United Arab Emirates, a country with which Iraq will be quite familiar after playing all four of its home matches in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying in UAE. Yemen perhaps should have chosen a more neutral site, but it is too late to correct this mistake now. Iraq should close out the series after its resumption in five days.
Goals:
Iran
Karim Ansari Fard 4, 61
Ali Karimi 68
Saeid Daghighi Masouleh 86
Oman
Amad Ali 22
Ismail Al Ajmi 79
Iraq
Hawar Mulla Mohammed 9
Alaa Abdul Zahra 63
Match Reports:
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpa5lFHgZc0 (Iran v. Maldives)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTyKfaFHggA (Oman v. Myanmar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zfx-g386gw (Iraq v. Yemen)
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