Asian Cup: Iran 1 North Korea 0

Iran remain top of Asian Cup Group D after a hard-fought 1-0 win over North Korea in Doha on Saturday.

In a limp encounter of few real chances, a well-taken finish from Karim Ansarifard just after the hour mark proved the difference between two evenly-matched teams at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium.

Iran moves onto six points and are well placed to win the group, setting up a quarter-final with probable Group C runners-up Australia or South Korea.

North Korea have only one point and will need to beat Iraq in their final game while hoping other results go their way if they are to progress in the Asian Football Confederation’s flagship tournament.

A dour opening proved to be an indication of things to come, with the two sides largely cancelling each other out.

A succession of niggling fouls and pressing tactics translated into a scrappy encounter and it took until the 16th minute for either team to register a shot of note.

It came from North Korea’s Jong Tae-Se, who blasted a long-range free kick straight at Mehdi Rahmati.

The Iran goalkeeper could only parry, and was relieved to see the rebound sail over the bar.

With Bochum man Jong leading the line, North Korea slowly began to edge their opponents in the possession count, but it was Iran who had the ball in the back of the net in the 27th minute.

Centre-forward Ansarifard collected a long-ball out of defence and managed to beat Jun-Il Ri before forcing the ball beyond North Korea keeper Myong-Guk Ri.

But referee Nawaf Shukralla disallowed the goal, harshly deeming Ansarifard to have handled in the build up.

The Bahraini official added insult to injury by booking the Saipa striker for delaying the restart.

The lively Jong enjoyed North Korea’s best chance of the half six minutes before the break, but after finding himself in behind the Iran defence, he could only shoot straight at Rahmati.

The second half quickly fell into the same pattern, with neither side enjoying more than half-chances.

Pejman Nouri delivered a weak cross straight to Ri after breaking into the box, while fullback Cha Jong-Hyok had a speculative strike easily saved.

But Iran slowly grew into the match and began to threaten on the counter before finally breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute.

After catching fullback Cha out of position, Malavan midfielder Nouri raced into the box before crossing for Ansarifard, who used the inside of his foot to guide the ball beyond Ri and into the far corner of the net.

North Korea struggled to break Iran down as they came in search of an equaliser, but with only injury-time remaining they nearly had one.

In the 91st minute Yong-Jo Hong seized hold of a scuffed cross before turning to strike a shot that shaved the crossbar, but Iran survived to secure the win.