Iran edge toward World Cup finals with victory over Lebanon

Mehdi Taremi scored once and set up another as Iran moved closer to the 2022 World Cup with a 2-1 win over Lebanon.

The Porto forward opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark in the clash at the Imam Reza Stadium in Mashhad.

Taremi doubled Iran’s lead seven minutes after the break, setting up Sardar Azmoun who fired home his ninth goal of the qualifying campaign.

Lebanon replacement Hilal El-Helwe pulled one back for the visitors with 20 minutes remaining.

Iran top Group A with 16 points from six matches played, two points ahead of South Korea and Lebanon.

The top two from each of the two qualifying groups in the Asian Football Confederation will secure a place at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

The third-placed teams will advance to a play-off, with the winners facing a team from South America for a place at the finals.