Iran, Korea win Asian Cup qualifiers

MNA – Iran breezed past Syria 2-0 and South Korea trounced Taiwan 8-0 at the AFC Asian Cup 2007 Group B second-leg qualifiers Wednesday.

Hamburg’s right winger Mehdi Mahdavikia was the main provider in the Syrian capital Damascus as two of his trademark crosses were headed home – one in each half.

Iran, which was held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg with a late equalizer, took the lead after 27 minutes.

The Bundesliga-bound Mahdavikia curled a set-piece and the advancing fullback Mohammad Nosrati, who had vowed to score, outjumped his marker to head home.

Midfielder Javad Nekunam, the Spanish Primera Liga side Osasuna’s new signing, was given enough space in the box to send a curling corner from Mahdavikia into the net with another header on 56 minutes.

Iran missed some other scoring chances to celebrate an away 2-0 victory that brought its points to eight, two shy of Korea’s.

Syria is third on the table with four points and Taiwan sticks to rock bottom with no point.

The top two teams will qualify for the next round.